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HOW TO LINK AN APPLICATION TO CIC ACCOUNT - STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTION

alaria

Hero Member
Apr 17, 2018
744
855
I've seen many times on this forum that one of the biggest issues for applicants is linking an application to an online account. I've decided to create this post, trying to answer as many questions as I could think of.

How to link an application
  1. Go to this page https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/account.html
  2. If you already have an account, just log into it and go to step 3. If you don't have an account, choose either "Continue to Sign-In Partner" or "Continue to GCKey". Attention! To find out the difference between these two, please see "Questions and Answers" section below in this post.
    If you've chosen "Sign-In Partner", create an account with one of them. If you've chosen "GCKey", on the next page click "Sign Up" and create an account. The process of creating an account is similar to signing up on any other regular website, so it shouldn't be complicated.
  3. After logging in or signing up on the previous step, you will see your account page. Click "Add (link) your application to your account".
  4. In the Category select Permanent Residence (here and below I will imply you've applied to sponsor your family member and will suggest options based on that. If your case is different, choose whatever option applies to you).
  5. In the Sub-category select the class of your application. For example "Family Class (Common-law partner)" or "Family Class (Spouses)".
  6. In "Application details: Please select one" select one of the four options. If you know an application number (if you've received AOR previously and it contains application number), you can select "Application Number and Family Name" option. If you don't know either application number or UCI, then select "Family Name, Given Name and Date of Birth".
  7. Enter the required information.
    Attention! You need to use Primary Applicant's information, i.e. PA's name, PA's date of birth, PA's UCI, etc.
    Attention! Enter the information exactly as you did in your application form IMM0008.
    Attention! A sponsor and a Primary Applicant have different UCI numbers. If you have received AOR1, it has sponsor's UCI. Do not use it! For more details about UCI number please see "Questions and Answers" section below in this post.
  8. In the "Applicant's personal information" section select either "Passport" or "Place of Birth".
  9. Enter the required information exactly as you did in your application form IMM0008.
  10. In the "Other Application Information" select the province and the city you are going to live in as you did in the form IMM0008.
  11. In the "Current marital status" select the status that applies to you. If you are a common-law, you will most probably need to select "Single" (as reported by members on this forum).
  12. In the "Number of family members, including the primary applicant, that are part of this application" enter 2 if you are sponsoring a partner with no dependents, and enter 2+number_of_dependents if you are also sponsoring any dependents (your or your partner's kids).
    Attention! Even though in the form IMM0008 you entered 1 as a number of family members including in the application (or 1 + number_of_dependents), you need to enter 2 when linking an application. I believe this is the most major issue people struggle with. Please make sure you entered 2 (and +1 per dependent if you have any).

Questions and Answers

  • What is GCKey and what is Sign-In partner? Is there any difference in these two types of accounts?
    These are just two different ways to sign in to your account. GCKey stand for Government Canada Key, and this is simply a username and a password. This is the most common way of creating an account. Sign-In Partner is one of the major banks in Canada. If you have online banking with any of them, you can use your credentials to create this account. It's a bit easier than GCKey because you won't need to create a username, password and recovery questions.
    But whether you've created an account with GCKey or Sign-In Partner, it will be the same account. There is no difference in the functionality and no difference in the process of linking an application.
  • I am a Primary Applicant. I previously applied for visitor visa in Canada and I have my UCI number since that time. Can I use it to link my application?
    Yes, you can. UCI number has been created once and for all. It won't change whether you are applying for a visa, a permanent residence or a citizenship.
  • Can I link an application to sponsor's account or should I only link it to Primary Applicant's account?
    You can link it to any account, whether it's PA's or sponsor's. There is no difference. Just remember, after you've linked an application, you will receive all the communication with CIC through this account. And if you've linked an application to sponsor's account, all notifications will come to sponsor's email.
    Please also remember that you can just share credentials (a username and a password) with your partner and you both can check the same account.
  • Can I link an application to both sponsor's and PA's account at the same time?
    No, you can't. It can only be linked to one account at a time. But if you've linked an application to one account and now you want to link it to another one, you still can do that. Just remember that once you link it to a new account, in the old account you will see a message that an application has been now linked to another account and you won't have access to it in the old account. In other words, after linking an application to a new account, an old account will lose a connection with it.
  • My application was received by CIC two days ago. Why can't I link my application?
    You will only be able to link an application after CIC actually started working on it, i.e. when the information is entered in their system. It can take days, weeks or months. Please check the respective threads on this forum to find out the current average time of linking an application to an account after submitting it.
  • I have an old CIC account from my previous PR application (eg. I used it for Express Entry). Can I link my spousal sponsorship application to it or do I need to create a new account?
    You can use an old account. You don't need to create a new account with every new application.
  • Can I link an application if I am unpaid representative of my spouse?
    Even though the guide says "no", members of this forum report the opposite. I don't know every case of every person, but a general answer would be "Yes, you can".
  • Can I link an application if I hired a lawyer to represent me?
    No, you can't. If you have a paid representative, only they can link an application to their account.
  • I can't link an application. Will I miss all important notifications from CIC?
    No. This is important: please, don't worry if you can't link an application to an account for a long time because technically you don't even need it. Until you link an application to an account, all the communication with CIC will go to your (PA's or sponsor's) email. You will not miss anything. Biometric requests, medical requests, passport requests - everything will come to your email if you don't have an account or just unable to link an application.
  • My application has been received by CIC long ago, I have received AOR, and I still can't link an application even though I know I'm entering all the info correctly. I've made dozens of attempts and I'm still unsuccessful. What should I do?
    If you are sure you're doing everything right and still no success, you can contact CIC. On the page where you see "Can't find an application" message there is a button "Report a problem". You can report your case, provide them all the required information and they will probably reply to you and tell you what you should do.
General guidance: don't kill yourself if you can't link an application for 2-3 days and you've made 10-15 attempts. Try different combinations. If you were unsuccessful with passport info, try date of birth, and the opposite. Don't waste your attempts using the same combination every day. Try to combine as much as you can. One of the combinations will work for you.
 

hannan882

Star Member
Jan 23, 2019
55
35
Thank you very much for this guide. I believe it will help a lot of people on this forum!

I was able to link both my PR and OWP application last week. When I linked my PR application it is stuck on "Pending Registration" and no matter what I do it won't change. I linked my OWP 2 days after linking my PR application, Initially it was the same status but after I refreshed the page the status changed to Submitted for the OWP. The PR application is still showing "Pending Registration". Do you have any idea what's causing this or how to fix it ?
 
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alaria

Hero Member
Apr 17, 2018
744
855
Thank you very much for this guide. I believe it will help a lot of people on this forum!

I was able to link both my PR and OWP application last week. When I linked my PR application it is stuck on "Pending Registration" and no matter what I do it won't change. I linked my OWP 2 days after linking my PR application, Initially it was the same status but after I refreshed the page the status changed to Submitted for the OWP. The PR application is still showing "Pending Registration". Do you have any idea what's causing this or how to fix it ?
"Pending Registration" is the current status of your application in CIC system. It will change later when they start working on the application. You don't need to fix anything.
 

JoshC

Hero Member
Nov 3, 2018
830
1,235
Canada
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
Mississauga, ON
App. Filed.......
21-11-2018
AOR Received.
29-01-2019
File Transfer...
27-02-2019
Med's Request
19-02-2019
Med's Done....
25-02-2019
Passport Req..
14-05-2019
VISA ISSUED...
30-05-2019
It really is a shame we don't have mods on here so we could pin a mega thread with useful links such as this. Good work @alaria :D
 

mrscraig1990

Newbie
Mar 15, 2019
7
5
Thanks for putting this together, so useful!

For step number 6, I received the AOR1 email (I am the sponsor) so want to use the Application Number and Family name option under 'Application details', do I use MY family name (the sponsor) of the principal applicant's family name? I know to use his details for step 7, but am not sure for step 6 (and have had difficulties linking the application using his name so am wondering if this is why).
 

phaeo

Hero Member
Apr 27, 2017
363
248
Thanks for putting this together, so useful!

For step number 6, I received the AOR1 email (I am the sponsor) so want to use the Application Number and Family name option under 'Application details', do I use MY family name (the sponsor) of the principal applicant's family name? I know to use his details for step 7, but am not sure for step 6 (and have had difficulties linking the application using his name so am wondering if this is why).
Everything needed to be the PA's details for us to find it (step 7 is just telling you what info you need to use in step 6). Keep trying different combinations of the info if it's not linking, and I think in the end you can report it if it's really not working!
 
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mrscraig1990

Newbie
Mar 15, 2019
7
5
Everything needed to be the PA's details for us to find it (step 7 is just telling you what info you need to use in step 6). Keep trying different combinations of the info if it's not linking, and I think in the end you can report it if it's really not working!
Thanks so much, after several failed attempts I've finally managed to link the application!
 
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cmp13

Star Member
May 31, 2019
52
43
How can we link our application if we only have AOR1 and the UCI of the Sponsor NOT the PA. Do we have to wait for the PA to receive his UCI in AOR2 if I'm not mistaken?

By the way we just received the AOR1 today so maybe there is a delay in the system reflecting the details?

Thanks
 

Krissh2179

Hero Member
Nov 20, 2018
689
339
App. Filed.......
14-02-2019
How can we link our application if we only have AOR1 and the UCI of the Sponsor NOT the PA. Do we have to wait for the PA to receive his UCI in AOR2 if I'm not mistaken?

By the way we just received the AOR1 today so maybe there is a delay in the system reflecting the details?

Thanks
You can search your application using the family name given name and date of birth details. Dont need to input UCI or application number
 
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pr90

Star Member
Mar 4, 2019
123
47
Make sure, if you the sponsor trying to link the applicant's application on your GCKEY profile make sure you are in their "use of representative" form or else it will not work. Other solution is to get the applicant to make his or her profile and link theirs in it.
 

cmp13

Star Member
May 31, 2019
52
43
Make sure, if you the sponsor trying to link the applicant's application on your GCKEY profile make sure you are in their "use of representative" form or else it will not work. Other solution is to get the applicant to make his or her profile and link theirs in it.
wow there are so many hidden things for linking the account.. I think i'll just stick to ECAS and emails from what Ive been reading those should be enough to get us through the whole process. Thanks!
 
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Krissh2179

Hero Member
Nov 20, 2018
689
339
App. Filed.......
14-02-2019
wow there are so many hidden things for linking the account.. I think i'll just stick to ECAS and emails from what Ive been reading those should be enough to get us through the whole process. Thanks!
should be enough for sure but GCKEY helps you keep track of every single process of your file that you cant get on ECAS. Like when you complete your biometrics (ECAS only shows the request letter they sent), Medicals passed on GCkey (shows as medical results received on ecas) and when your eligibility and background check start.
 

cmp13

Star Member
May 31, 2019
52
43
should be enough for sure but GCKEY helps you keep track of every single process of your file that you cant get on ECAS. Like when you complete your biometrics (ECAS only shows the request letter they sent), Medicals passed on GCkey (shows as medical results received on ecas) and when your eligibility and background check start.
Alright we'll keep trying we already have our Sponsor GCKey account and our PA GCKey account ready but cant find any applications to link when we search using the steps in this thread.

Maybe by Monday the applications will reflect on the system.

I'll let you guys know if I'm successful. Thank you!