Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) letter explained in English
Immigration office. Decides on visas, work and study permits, permanent residence and citizenship.
Letters you may get
- Acknowledgment of receipt (AOR) — they got your application and started to process it
- Biometric instruction letter (BIL) — give your fingerprints and photo, usually within 30 days
- Request for documents or procedural fairness letter — they need more from you before they decide
- Passport request, approval or refusal — the last steps and their decision
What to do
- Check your IRCC online account often. Many letters arrive there, not by post, and deadlines often count from the date of the letter.
- Apply to extend your permit before it expires. If you do, you can usually stay under the same conditions while you wait (maintained status).
- Find the deadline. Look for “deadline”, “pay by”, “due date”, “within”, “no later than”.
- Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
- If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“notice of objection”, “request for reconsideration”, “appeal”, “objection”, “review”, “dispute”). See the template.
Words you may see
- IRCC
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The federal office for visas, permits, permanent residence and citizenship.
- biometrics
- Your fingerprints and a digital photo, taken for an immigration application.
- procedural fairness letter
- A letter from IRCC saying it has concerns about your application. It gives you a chance to answer before it decides.
- study permit
- A paper that lets you study at a school in Canada. It is not a visa to enter Canada.
- maintained status
- If you apply to extend your permit before it expires, you can usually stay — and often keep working or studying — under the same conditions while you wait.
Questions
What is the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)?
Immigration office. Decides on visas, work and study permits, permanent residence and citizenship.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “deadline”, “pay by”, “due date”, “within”, “no later than” — they mark the deadline. In Canada, many deadlines count from the date printed on the letter, not from the day it arrives — for example, the 90 days to object to a tax notice. Mail can take several days, so check the date on the letter and act early. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“notice of objection”, “request for reconsideration”, “appeal”, “objection”, “review”, “dispute”).
Can I read a Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) letter in English?
Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in English. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in Canada
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Service Canada · Provincial health plan (OHIP, MSP, AHCIP …) · Ministry of Finance / Revenue (your province) · ServiceOntario / ICBC / registry office · City or town — property tax department · City bylaw enforcement / parking · Police service / Provincial Offences Court