Where to check your visa status
The place you check depends on which country issued your visa. Most countries run a single official portal where you enter your process number and see where your case stands. The United States uses the CEAC (Consular Electronic process Center) portal for visa applications processed at U.S. embassies and consulates. Canada uses the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) portal. The United Kingdom uses the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) portal. Australia uses the ImmiAccount system. Each portal works the same way: you log in with your process number and password, and the system shows your current status.
You will need your process number and the email address or password you created when you first submitted your visa request. If you cannot find your process number, check your confirmation email from when you submitted the form — it should be in the subject line or the body of the message. Some countries also allow you to call an immigration helpline and speak to a representative who can look up your status by phone, though this usually takes longer than checking online.
Key Takeaways
- Each country's immigration authority runs its own status portal, so you must use the correct website for the country that issued your visa.
- You will need your process number and the password you created when you submitted your visa request to log in.
- Status updates usually appear within 24 to 48 hours of any action on your case, though some stages can take weeks or months with no change.
- If your status has not changed in the timeframe the website promised, contact the visa office directly rather than resubmitting your process.
- Some countries allow phone or email inquiries if the online portal is down or if you cannot locate your process number.
What each status message means
Status portals use different language depending on the country, but the stages are similar. "process received" or "Under review" means your documents arrived and an officer has started reading them. This stage can last anywhere from a few days to several months depending on the visa type and how busy the office is. "Additional documents requested" means the officer needs more information from you before they can make a decision — you will see a list of what to send and a important date, usually 10 to 30 days. If you miss the important date, your process may be rejected.
"Decision made" or "Ready for collection" means the visa has been approved or denied. If approved, you will see instructions for collecting your passport with the visa stamped inside, or for downloading a digital visa if your country issues those. If denied, you will see a brief reason code — "does not meet requirements" or "insufficient funds" — though the full explanation usually arrives by email or mail within a few days. Some countries show "In queue for interview" if your visa type requires you to speak to an officer in person before approval.
How long each stage usually takes
Processing times vary widely by country, visa type, and how busy the office is at that moment. Standard visitor visas for the United States typically take 3 to 5 business days for a decision, though during peak travel seasons this can stretch to 2 to 3 weeks. Work visas and skilled migration visas take much longer — often 4 to 12 weeks or more. Canada's processing times range from 4 weeks for visitor visas to 6 months for permanent residence applications. The UK publishes target times on its website, usually 3 weeks for standard visas and 8 weeks for work visas, but actual times often exceed these targets.
The status portal will show you an estimated decision date when your process enters the queue. This date is not a may provide — it is based on average processing times, and your case may take longer if the officer needs to verify information or request additional documents. If your case has not moved in 2 weeks past the estimated date, you can contact the visa office to ask whether your process is still being processed. Do not resubmit your process or send duplicate documents, as this usually delays your case further.
What to do if your status has not changed
If your status shows "Under review" and weeks have passed with no update, the first step is to check whether you missed a request for additional documents. Log back into the portal and look for any messages or document requests you may have overlooked. If there is a request and you have not responded, submit the documents when ready — this is usually the reason cases stall. If there is no request and the estimated decision date has passed, contact the visa office directly.
Most countries provide a contact form or email address on their visa portal specifically for status inquiries. When you contact them, have your process number ready and explain that your case has not moved in X weeks. They can tell you whether your process is still in queue, whether documents are missing, or whether there is a problem that needs to be fixed. Some offices also have phone lines for urgent inquiries, though wait times are often long. Do not contact the office more than once every 2 to 3 weeks, as repeated inquiries do not speed up processing and may annoy the officer handling your case.
Checking status for family members or dependents
If you submitted a visa process that includes family members or dependents, each person usually gets their own process number and status portal login. You will need to check each person's status separately using their individual process number. Some countries allow the main applicant to view dependent applications from a single account, but this varies — check your country's immigration website to see whether linked viewing is available.
If you cannot log into a dependent's account because you do not have their password, contact the visa office and explain the situation. They may allow you to reset the password or provide the status information by phone. Keep in mind that dependents' visas are often processed together with the main applicant's visa, so they may all receive decisions on the same day, or dependent visas may be delayed if additional documents are needed for any family member.
Status portals for different countries
The table below shows where to check visa status for the most common destination countries. Each portal requires your process number and password. If you cannot find your process number, check your confirmation email from when you submitted your visa request, or contact the visa office directly.
| Country | Portal Name | Website |
|---|---|---|
| United States | CEAC (Consular Electronic process Center) | ceac.state.gov |
| Canada | IRCC Portal | ircc.canada.ca |
| United Kingdom | UKVI Portal | visas-immigration.service.gov.uk |
| Australia | ImmiAccount | immi.homeaffairs.gov.au |
| New Zealand | Online Visa Status | immigration.govt.nz |
| Germany | eVisa Portal | videx-national.diplo.de |
Common reasons status does not update
Your status may appear frozen for several reasons. The most common is that you have not responded to a document request — check your email and the portal message section carefully. Another reason is that the visa office is waiting for information from another government agency, such as a background check or security clearance. This can take weeks or months with no status change on your end. A third reason is that the office is straightforward busy and has not yet reviewed your process, even though the estimated date has passed — this is normal during peak seasons.
Less commonly, your process may be on hold because of an error in your submission, such as a missing signature or an incorrect date. The office should notify you of this, but sometimes the notification gets lost in email. If your status has not changed in over a month and you have confirmed there are no outstanding document requests, contact the visa office and ask them to review your file for any errors or missing information. Provide them with your process number and the date you submitted your process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check my visa status without my process number?
Most portals require your process number to log in. If you have lost it, check your confirmation email from when you submitted your visa request — the number is usually in the subject line or the first paragraph. If you cannot find the email, contact the visa office directly with your name, date of birth, and passport number, and they can look up your process number for you.
How often should I check my visa status?
Check once a week if your case is in the early stages, and less frequently once it has been under review for several weeks. Checking more often will not speed up processing. If you have a time-sensitive travel date coming up, contact the visa office directly to ask whether they can prioritize your case, rather than checking the portal repeatedly.
What does "decision made" mean if I have not received my visa yet?
It means the officer has approved or denied your visa, but you have not yet collected your passport or received your visa document. If approved, the portal will show instructions for collection — usually you pick up your passport at the visa office or a service center, or you read a digital visa. If denied, you will receive a letter explaining the reason.
Can I travel while my visa status shows "under review"?
No. You cannot travel on a visa that has not been approved yet. If you have a flight booked and your visa is still under review, contact the visa office and ask whether they can expedite your case. Some offices can prioritize applications for imminent travel, but this is not may provide.
What should I do if the status portal says my process was rejected?
Read the rejection reason carefully — it will explain why your visa was denied. Common reasons include insufficient funds, incomplete documents, or not meeting the requirements for that visa type. You can usually reapply after fixing the issue, but wait at least a few weeks and make sure you address the reason for rejection in your new process. Some countries allow you to appeal a rejection instead of reapplying — check your country's immigration website to see whether appeals are available for your visa type.