E-mail Enquiry

Instructions for sending enquiries

• Prior to sending an e-mail please search our website, you may find the answer to your question.
• Applicants for permanent residence should always check the on-line enquiry service, E-Client Application Status page prior to sending an e-mail.
• Please do not send attachments, as these cannot be opened
• Everyday, we receive many e-mails. To limit the number of enquires so as to give the best service possible to our clients, before sending us your e-mail enquiry, please ensure:
  • that the information you are looking for is not on our website as well as on Citizenship and Immigration Canada website
  • that you have checked the processing times
  • Your application is within the processing periods mentioned on 'acknowledgment of receipt' letter and therefore you do not need to send an enquiry
• Please choose only ONE mode of communication, e-mail, fax or mail. Not all three. Also do not send multiple copies of the same enquiry. Multiple enquiries delay our reply, since the file is retrieved at each enquiry and placed in sequence as if it were a new enquiry.

Information you must provide in your E-mail Enquiry

• Complete Name
• Date of Birth
• File Number

Also please indicate if you are:

• The Applicant
• An Authorised Representative
• A Designated Individual
• Canadian Member of Parliament

Language of communication

We will respond to enquiries sent in either of the official languages - English or French.

Service Standards

Our office is committed to respond to your enquiry within following service standards:

• All enquiries will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 48 hours;
• All enquiries will receive a substantive reply within 28 days. (Repeat enquiries may be ignored).

Who can represent you?

If you wish to appoint a representative (an immigration consultant, lawyer, friend, family member, etc.) who will conduct business with Citizenship and Immigration Canada on their behalf, please click here.

Remember you are not obliged to hire a representative for immigration and refugee matters. The Government of Canada treats everyone equally, whether they use the services of a representative or not.

Release of information to a designated individual

The individual you designate will be able to obtain information on your case file, such as the status of your application. However, he or she will not be a representative who can conduct business on your behalf with CIC.

Please click here for more information and form for authority to release personal information to a designated person.

Consent & Disclaimer

By supplying your e-mail address (in your enquiry or previously in your application), you are initiating an email communication with CIC, and CIC is thereby authorized to use the email address provided by you for communication with you including the transmission of personal information on your file/case. When you supply your email address to CIC, it is also understood that you are aware that this channel may not be a secure channel. CIC is not liable for the disclosure of personal information to a third party where CIC has taken reasonable means to ensure the identity of the party. CIC is also not liable for the misuse of this information by a third party.

To see CIC policy on internet use click here.

Protect your personal information

Clients should be careful to protect their file number, FOSS client ID number, date of birth and all other personal identification information. As these personal identifiers may allow clients to receive information about their files from CIC via e-mail, clients should not share this information with unauthorized third parties.

Access to information and Privacy

The purpose of the Privacy Act is to protect the privacy of individuals with respect to personal information about themselves held by a government institution and to provide individuals with the right of access to such information.

For more information on the Privacy Act, click here.

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