IRCC stands for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. It offers two main ways to reach it. One is the phone line, and the other is the web form. The phone line serves callers in Canada only. Before you contact IRCC, check your online account and the published processing time for your application. IRCC says its agents can’t give updates beyond what is already available online.
Can I call IRCC?
Yes, if you are in Canada. IRCC lists its phone service under the heading “Contact us by phone (in Canada only)”. The number is 1-888-242-2100, and it is toll-free in Canada.
The same number reaches two services. The automated service runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With a touch-tone phone, you can check the status of your application and hear recorded information about IRCC programs.
Client support centre agents answer Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. your local time. They are closed on statutory holidays. IRCC’s own tip is to call early in the morning to avoid long wait times.
- Automated service: 1-888-242-2100, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Agents: 1-888-242-2100, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time
- Voice to TTY, through Bell Relay: 1-800-855-0511
- TTY to voice: 711
- TTY to TTY: 1-800-855-1155
The TTY lines keep the same hours as the agents. IRCC notes that you need a TTY device to use them, such as a machine, a cell phone or a laptop in TTY mode.
What IRCC agents can do on the phone
IRCC says its agents help with general questions and application support. They can answer general questions about your application or case. They can check your application status. They can also help you find information on the IRCC website.
The limits matter as much as the help. Agents can’t advise you on which program to apply for. They can’t speed up processing, unless your case already meets IRCC’s rules for urgent processing. They can’t give you a decision. IRCC also says agents don’t have more details than what is available online.
If you call about an application in progress, have two numbers ready. IRCC asks for your unique client identifier (UCI) and your application number.
The number
IRCC agents answer Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. your local time, and they don’t have more details than what is available online.
How to use the IRCC web form
The web form is IRCC’s online contact channel. It works from inside or outside Canada. IRCC lists five reasons to use it.
- Update your application, for example to send documents
- Ask about your application, if it is past the normal processing time
- Ask about IRCC programs or services
- Report a technical problem
- Share your feedback
Pick the option that matches your question, then fill in the form. The form asks for an application number and a UCI. If you have not applied yet, IRCC tells you to enter 0000000 as the application number and 1111111111 as the UCI.
Check two things before you write. First, look at your application status in your account. Second, compare your wait with the processing time IRCC publishes for your application type. Our processing times tool shows those published times, and our GCKey and IRCC portal guide explains what each status means.
How long does IRCC take to answer a web form?
IRCC does not publish a reply time for its web form. We read the web form page on September 27, 2026, and it gives no number of days. A reply time quoted on another site does not come from that page.
What the page does say is useful. If you sent an application and have not heard from IRCC recently, IRCC is still processing it. You don’t need to do anything else. If IRCC needs more information, it will contact you. IRCC also says that sending another web form won’t speed things up.
If your file is well past the published processing time, the web form option to ask about your application is the channel IRCC names for that. Our guide to IRCC processing delays covers what long waits and common statuses mean.
Can I call IRCC from outside Canada?
IRCC lists its phone service as in Canada only. From outside Canada, use the web form.
IRCC also says when to contact its other offices. You contact a visa office only if IRCC tells you to. A visa application centre is where you mail your passport or give your biometrics. A processing centre in Canada receives applications and documents by mail. An IRCC office in Canada sees you if you have an appointment. A Canadian embassy serves Canadian citizens abroad.
Outages and technical problems
Sometimes the IRCC account or portal is down. IRCC says to follow it on X for updates on scheduled and unscheduled service outages. You can report a technical problem through the web form.
IRCC’s contact page also links help for common account problems. These cover the IRCC secure account, the IRCC portal, the permanent residence portal and GCKey. Check that help before you send a technical report.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IRCC toll-free number?
The IRCC toll-free number is 1-888-242-2100, and it works from inside Canada. The automated service on that line runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Agents answer Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. your local time. TTY users can reach IRCC through Bell Relay at 1-800-855-0511. The “Can I call IRCC?” section above lists every number.
Can I call IRCC on Saturday?
On a Saturday you can use the automated service only. It runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-888-242-2100. With a touch-tone phone, it lets you check your application status. Agents work Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. your local time, and are closed on statutory holidays. On a weekend, the web form is the other option, as the web form section above explains.
Can I call IRCC about my application?
Yes, if you are in Canada. Agents can answer general questions about your application and check its status. IRCC says they don’t have more details than what is available online. They can’t speed up processing or give a decision. Have your UCI and application number ready. Our GCKey and IRCC portal guide shows how to read your status before you call.
Can I call IRCC from outside Canada?
IRCC lists its phone service as in Canada only, so people abroad use the web form. The form lets you ask about an application that is past the normal processing time. It also lets you send documents, ask about programs and report a technical problem. The web form section of this guide lists each option and the placeholder numbers for people who have not applied.
How long does IRCC take to respond to a web form?
IRCC does not publish a response time for its web form. Its web form page says that if you have not heard back, IRCC is still processing your application. It will contact you if it needs more information. The page also says another web form won’t speed things up. Our IRCC processing delays guide explains what a long wait can mean.
How do I use the IRCC web form?
Open the IRCC web form page on canada.ca and pick the option that fits your question. You can update your application, ask about your application or report a technical problem. You can also ask about programs or services, or share feedback. The form asks for an application number and a UCI. If you have not applied, IRCC says to enter 0000000 and 1111111111. Check our processing times tool first.
Can an IRCC agent speed up my application?
No. IRCC lists speeding up processing among the things its agents can’t do, unless your case already meets its rules for urgent processing. Agents also can’t give you a decision or advise you which program to apply for. IRCC’s web form page adds that sending another web form won’t speed things up. Our IRCC processing delays guide covers the stages a file moves through.
Related guides and tools
Official sources
This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.