Create an account to submit documents for your eTA application
If you received an email asking you to create a secure account and submit documents:
- You need to do this so that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) can continue to process your eTA application.
- You must create a secure account before you can see what document(s) you need to submit and by when.
- You only have a certain number of days - from the date the information is sent to you - to submit the document(s).
- If you don’t submit the document(s) by the deadline, your eTA application could be refused.
- You can ask for more time to get the document(s), but you must do this before the deadline passes.
1. Find out what document(s) you need to submit and by when
You need to create your account and link your eTA application before you can check your messages. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Create a GCKey
The GCKey secure credential service is provided by the Government of Canada so that users can safely conduct business online with IRCC.
Having trouble creating a GCKey? Watch this video for a step-by-step process.
Title: Video 1: Create a GCKey
Length: 2m32
Text version: Video 1: Create a GCKey – Tutorial: Submitting documents for an eTA application
Narrator: Video 1: Create a GCKey.
An illustrated envelope appears with a number 1 on it followed by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada corporate signature.
Narrator: This five-part video series will explain the steps you need to take if you received an email from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, or IRCC, asking you to submit documents to support your application for an Electronic Travel Authorization, also known as an eTA.
An illustrated briefcase appears.
Text displays: “eTA – Electronic Travel Authorization”
Narrator: This video, Video 1, explains how to create a GCKey, the Government of Canada’s secure credential.
Text displays: “GCKey – Government of Canada’s secure credential”
A laptop shows the IRCC website.
Narrator: A GCKey is needed to access certain Government of Canada online services and keeps your information safe.
A screenshot of the IRCC web site is shown, full screen.
The text, “Create an account to submit documents for your eTA application”, is highlighted.
Narrator: In the email you received from IRCC, there is a link to this page: “Create an account to submit documents for your eTA application”.
The text, “A. Follow the instructions to get a GCKey”, is highlighted on the web page and clicked on.
Narrator: Under “Create a GCKey”, click on “Follow the instructions to get a GCKey”. Then click “Sign Up”.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Welcome to GCKey”’ is shown.
The text, “Sign Up”, is highlighted on the web page and clicked on.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Terms and Conditions of Use”’ is shown.
The text, “I accept”, is highlighted and clicked on.
Narrator: Read the “Terms and Conditions of Use”, and if you agree, click “I accept”. If you don’t accept, you can’t get a GCKey.
Narrator: Create your username.
An illustrated green checkmark and the text, “JaneExample123”, is overlaid on the screenshot of the IRCC webpage.
Narrator: It must be between 8 and 16 characters in length, and it can contain up to 7 digits. Your username is not case-sensitive. You cannot use special characters.
An illustrated red X and the text, “JaneExample1&@”, is overlaid on the screenshot of the IRCC webpage.
Red text is displayed over the text field.
Text displays: “Error 1: The Username you have selected is not available”
Narrator: If you choose a username that is already in use, you will be asked to choose a different one.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Create Your Username”’ is shown.
Narrator: Create your password.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Create Your Password” is shown.
Green check marks are overlaid on the screenshot acting as bullet point for the following list:
- Between 8 to 16 characters
- Must contain at least one upper case letter
- Must contain at least one lower case letter
- Must contain at least one digit
- Must not contain 3 or more consecutive characters from your username
Narrator: Your password must be between 8 and 16 characters in length. It must contain at least one upper-case letter, one lower-case letter and one digit and must not contain 3 or more consecutive characters from your username. You must confirm your password to continue.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Create Your Password” is shown.
The text, “Continue” is clicked.
Narrator: You must now create questions, answers and hints to be able to sign in to your account if you forget your password.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Create Your Recovery Questions, Answers and Hints” is shown.
The form field text is highlighted as its content is read by the narrator.
Narrator:
- For the first question, choose one from the drop-down list.
- Enter your answer for the first question.
- You must also choose a memorable person, such as your best friend or mother, and a memorable date, such as your birthday.
- Enter hints for both of those answers to help you remember the answers.
A mouse curser is shown navigating the drop-down options.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “GCKey Sign Up Complete” is shown.
The text, “Continue” is clicked.
Narrator: A message will appear on the screen that says “GCKey Sign Up Complete – You have successfully created your GCKey.”
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Terms and Conditions” is shown.
Narrator: Now that you have created your GCKey, click “Continue” to create a secure account with IRCC.
A laptop shows the text, “Video 2: Create a secure account with IRCC – Tutorial: Submitting documents for an eTA application”
Narrator: Watch the next video, “Video 2: Create a secure account with IRCC”, for an explanation of the next steps to take.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada corporate signature and the copyright message “Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2016” are displayed followed by the Canada wordmark.
Step 2: Create a secure account with IRCC
- Once the registration for GCKey is complete, you will automatically be taken to the IRCC account registration page. Follow the instructions.
- Once your IRCC account is created, you will automatically be taken to your account information.
Watch this video to see all the steps in creating a secure account:
Title: Video 2: Create a secure account with IRCC
Length: 2m17
Text version: Video 2: Create a secure account with IRCC – Tutorial: Submitting documents for an eTA application.
Narrator: Video 2 – Create a secure account with IRCC.
An illustrated envelope appears with a number 1 on it followed by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada corporate signature.
Narrator: You’ve received an email from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, or IRCC, asking you to submit documents to support your application for an Electronic Travel Authorization, also known as an eTA.
An illustrated briefcase appears.
Text displays: “eTA – Electronic Travel Authorization”
Narrator: In Video 1, you learned how to create a GCKey, the Government of Canada’s secure credential to access online services.
Text displays: “GCKey – Government of Canada’s secure credential”.
A laptop shows various pages of the IRCC website.
Narrator: This video, Video 2, explains the next step: creating a secure account with IRCC. This can be done only after you’ve created your GCKey. You will then automatically be taken to the secure IRCC account registration page.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Terms and Conditions” is shown.
The text, “I Accept”, is highlighted and clicked on.
Narrator: You first need to review the “Terms and Conditions”.
If you agree, click “I accept”. If you don’t accept, you will not be able to register for an account.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Create an account” is shown.
The form fields are highlighted as its content is read by the narrator.
Narrator: Then, follow the steps to create an IRCC account.
- Enter your name.
- Enter your email address.
- Select your preferred language: English or French. The account is available only in Canada’s two official languages.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Create your security questions” is shown.
The form fields are highlighted as its content is read by the narrator.
Narrator: You also need to create recovery questions and answers for your IRCC account. These are different from the ones you created for your GCKey. It’s important to remember the questions and answers you choose because they will be used to confirm certain information in your account, such as your electronic signature. So, be sure to create security questions that are easy for you to remember but difficult for others to guess.
You need to create four recovery questions and answers in total.
Click “Continue” once you have created the four questions and answers.
The “Continue” text box is clicked.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Jane Example’s account” is shown.
Narrator: Your account with IRCC has now been created. You will now need to link your eTA application with your secure IRCC account.
A laptop shows the text, “Video 3: Link your Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) application to your secure account – Tutorial: Submitting documents for an eTA application”
Narrator: The next video in the series, Video 3, explains how to do that.
A screenshot of the IRCC web site is shown, full screen.
The text, “Create an account to submit documents for your eTA application”, is highlighted.
Narrator: If you need to sign back into your secure IRCC account at any time, go back to the “Create an account” page that was linked to in the email you received from IRCC. We recommend you bookmark this page.
A screenshot of the IRCC web site is shown, full screen with the heading, “Create an account to submit documents for your eTA application” and scrolls down to highlighted text: “GCKey sign in page”.
Narrator: Scroll down and click “GCKey sign in page”, and sign in using your GCKey username and password.
A mouse curser is shown clicking on the text “GCKey sign in page”
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Welcome to GCKey” appears.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada corporate signature and the copyright message “Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2016” are displayed followed by the Canada wordmark.
Step 3: Link your eTA application to your secure account
Watch this video to see all the steps in linking your eTA application:
Title: Video 3: Link your Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) application to your secure account
Length: 5m34
Text version: Video 3: Link your Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) application to your secure account – Tutorial: Submitting documents for an eTA application.
Narrator: Video 3 – Link your Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) application to your secure account.
An illustrated envelope appears with a number 1 on it followed by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada corporate signature.
Narrator: You’ve received an email from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, or IRCC, asking you to submit documents to support your application for an Electronic Travel Authorization, also known as an eTA.
An illustrated briefcase appears.
Text displays: “eTA– Electronic Travel Authorization”
Narrator: In Video 2, you learned how to create a secure IRCC account.
Text displays: “Create a secure IRCC account”
Text displays: “Link your eTA application to your secure account”
A laptop shows an IRCC web page with the heading “Link an existing application to this account”.
Narrator: Video 3 explains the steps to link your eTA application to this secure account.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Jane Example’s account” is shown.
The page scrolls until the heading, “What would you like to do today”, is highlighted.
The text, “Link application to this account”, is highlighted and clicked.
Narrator: Once you’ve signed into your IRCC account using your GCKey username and password, scroll down until you see “What would you like to do today?”
Select “Link application to this account”.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Link an existing application to his account” is shown.
The text, “Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)" is highlighted and clicked.
Narrator: In the drop-down list, select “Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)”.
The web page scrolls to the heading, “Tell us about your application”
Narrator: You need to enter information about your eTA application and passport. Be sure to enter the information exactly as you did on your eTA application. If you don’t, you won’t be able to link your application.
The web page’s form field text is highlighted as its content is read by the narrator.
The letter “V” appears in the Application Number field.
Narrator: For the “Application number”, enter the number provided in your email from IRCC. Your application number starts with the letter “V”. This field is case-sensitive.
Enter your family name, or last name; your given name, or first name; and your date of birth. These fields are not case-sensitive.
Enter your passport details.
Then click “Search for my application”.
The web page text, “Search for my application”, is highlighted and clicked.
Narrator: A message will appear to say that a match was found.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Link an existing application to this account” is shown.
The text, “Link my application”, is highlighted and clicked.
Narrator: Click “Link my application”.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Application Registration Successful”, is shown.
The text, “Your application is now linked to this account”, is highlighted.
Narrator: Your eTA application has now been linked to your IRCC online account. A confirmation message will appear on the screen, and you will receive an email that tells you your application has been linked.
An illustrated envelope appears with a number 1 on it followed by the text, “Your application has been linked”.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Application Registration Successful”, is shown.
The text, “Go to main account page”, is highlighted and clicked.
Narrator: Once you have linked your application and received the confirmation message, click “Go to main account page” to access your application. You can then skip ahead to the next video: “Video 4: Find out what documents you need to submit”.
A laptop with the text, “Video 4: Find out what documents you need to submit - Tutorial: Submitting documents for an eTA application” appears.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Link an existing application to this account”, is shown.
The text, “Based on the information you entered, we found no applications”, is highlighted.
Narrator: If a match was not found to link your application, that means the information you entered is not the same as what you provided for your eTA application.
Text displays: “If a match was not found, try again to make sure you haven’t made a typing error.”
Narrator: Try again to make sure you haven’t made a typing error and that there are no extra spaces before or after what you’ve typed into each field.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Creating an account to submit documents for your eTA application”, is shown.
Narrator: If you still cannot link your eTA application to your secure IRCC account, you can submit an enquiry form. We recommend doing this as soon as possible.
To submit an enquiry, you’ll need to exit your secure account and return to the “Create an account” web page.
The web page heading, “Create an account to submit documents for your eTA application”, is highlighted.
Narrator: Click the “enquiry form” link.
The web page scrolls and the text, “enquiry form”, is highlighted and clicked.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “IRCC Webform”, is shown.
The web page scrolls until the text, “Type of application/enquiry (required)”, is highlighted.
The various form fields are highlighted and interacted with as the narrator mentions them.
Narrator: Scroll down until you see “Type of application/enquiry”. In the drop-down menu, select “Electronic Travel Authorization”. In the next drop-down menu, select “Electronic Travel Authorization – General and Technical Enquiries”.
In the text box, explain that you cannot link your eTA application to your secure IRCC account. Your message must be in English or French. Provide as much detail as you can.
Under “Applicant information”, you must provide your family name, or last name, your given name, or first name, your date of birth and your country of birth. The other fields are optional. If you are filling out the form on behalf of the applicant, be sure to enter the applicant’s details here.
“Enquirer information” tells IRCC if someone else is filling out the form on behalf of an eTA applicant. Choose “representative” from the drop-down menu if you are filling out the form on behalf of the eTA applicant. This includes if you are a parent filling out the form for your child’s eTA application. Enter your personal details.
If you are the eTA applicant, choose “applicant”. Your name will automatically be re-entered. Then enter your email address.
Scroll down and read the “Consent and disclaimer”. If you agree, select “I agree with the consent and disclaimer” and click “Next”. You will not be able to submit your enquiry form if you do not agree.
A web page with the heading, “Case Specific Enquiry”, is shown and the text, “Would you like to include a document with your submission?” is highlighted.
Narrator: The next page will ask you if you would like to include a document with your submission. We strongly recommend you upload screenshots of the message you are receiving when you try to link your application. This will help us to resolve the issue.
The text, “Yes”, is highlighted and clicked.
Narrator: If you have screenshots to upload, click “yes”, upload them and then click “submit”.
The various form fields are highlighted as the narrator describes them.
Narrator: Then, confirm your email address and birth date and click “Next”.
A web page with the heading, “Case Specific Enquiry - Confirmation”, is shown.
Narrator: A confirmation message will appear on the screen to say that your enquiry has been submitted.
Note that it can take us several days to answer your enquiry.
A web page with the heading, “Application Registration Successful”, is shown. The text “Your application is now linked to this account.”
Narrator: Once you have linked your eTA application to your secure IRCC account, click “Go to main page” for the next step: finding out what documents you need to submit.
A laptop with the text, “Video 4: Find out what documents you need to submit – Tutorial: Submitting documents for an eTA application”, is shown.
Narrator: The next video in the series, Video 4, provides instructions on how to do this. It explains how to check the message section in your secure IRCC account to find out what documents you need to submit for your eTA application.
A web page with the heading, “Create an account to submit documents for your eTA application”, is shown. The text, “Create an account to submit documents for your eTA application”, is highlighted.
Narrator: Remember, if you need to sign back into your secure IRCC account at any time, go back to the “Create an account” page that was linked to in the email you received from IRCC. We recommend you bookmark this page.
The web page scrolls to the highlighted text, “GCKey sign in page”, is shown and clicked.
Narrator: Scroll down and click “GCKey sign in page”, and sign in using your GCKey username and password.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Welcome to GCKey” is shown.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada corporate signature and the copyright message “Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2016” are displayed followed by the Canada wordmark.
Step 4: Check the message section and read the letter that says what documents you need to submit
Watch this video to see all the steps to find the letter:
Title: Video 4: Find out what documents you need to submit
Length: 5m28
Text version: Video 4: Find out what documents you need to submit – Tutorial: Submitting documents for an eTA application.
Narrator: Video 4 – Find out what documents you need to submit
An illustrated envelope appears with a number 1 on it followed by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada corporate signature.
Narrator: You’ve received an email from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, or IRCC, asking you to submit documents to support your application for an Electronic Travel Authorization, also known as an eTA.
An illustrated briefcase appears.
Text displays: “eTA – Electronic Travel Authorization”
Text displays: “Link your eTA application to your secure account”
Narrator: In Video 3, you learned how to link your eTA application to your secure IRCC account.
A laptop shows an IRCC web page with the heading “Application/profile details”
An image of a letter is overlaid on the laptop.
Narrator: Video 4 explains how to check the message section in your secure IRCC account to read the letter that lists the documents you need to submit for your eTA application. Make sure that you have first linked your eTA application to your secure IRCC account.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Link an existing application to this account” is shown.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Application Registration Successful” is shown.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Jane Example’s account” is shown.
The web page scrolls until the highlighted text, “View my submitted applications or profiles”, is highlighted.
Other pieces of text on the page are highlighted as the narrator mentions them.
Narrator: Once you are signed in to your IRCC account, scroll down until you find the list of “View submitted applications or profile”.
You should see your eTA application in the list and the text “Your action is required”.
Click “Check status and messages”.
The text, “Check status and messages”, is highlighted and clicked.
Other pieces of text are highlighted as the narrator mentions them.
Narrator: Then, scroll down to “Application messages”, where you will see that you have a new message. Click the arrow beside the message, then click “View this message” to download the letter so you can open it.
An image of and IRCC letter is shown.
Pieces of text are highlighted as they are mentioned by the narrator.
Narrator: In the letter, there are instructions that tell you what documents you need to submit and by what date. For example, you may need to submit a police certificate.
Text displays beside an icon consisting of an exclamation mark in a yellow triangle: “All documents must be submitted through your secure IRCC account”.
Narrator: All documents must be submitted through your secure IRCC account. IRCC will not accept documents sent by mail, courier, email or fax.
Red text appears: “IRCC will not accept documents sent by mail, courier, email or fax”.
Narrator: Get your requested documents ready as soon as possible.
Text displays beside an icon consisting of an exclamation mark in a yellow triangle: “Documents must be in English or French or be accompanied by a certified translation”.
An illustrated stopwatch appears.
Narrator: Remember that your documents must be in English or French or be accompanied by a certified translation. Getting a certified translation can take time, so start this process as soon as you can.
Text displays beside an icon consisting of an exclamation mark in a yellow triangle: “If you can’t submit your documents by the date in the letter, you can ask for an extension, but only before the deadline passes.”
Narrator: If you can’t submit your documents by the date in the letter, you can ask for an extension, but only before the deadline passes. If you don’t submit your documents by the deadline, your eTA application could be refused.
Red text is added: “If you don’t submit your documents by the deadline, your eTA application could be refused”.
Text displays: “If you don’t need to request an extension, you can skip ahead to the next video”.
A laptop appears displaying the text, “Video 5: Upload and submit your documents - Tutorial: Submitting documents for an eTA application”.
Narrator: If you don’t need to request an extension, you can skip ahead to the next video: “Video 5: Upload and submit your documents”. If you do need to request an extension, follow the next steps.
Text displays: “If you do need to request an extension, follow the next steps”
Animation shows hands typing on a laptop.
Narrator: To ask for an extension, write a short letter in a document that explains why you require an extension to submit your documents. Save this document. It cannot be more than 4 MB in size.
Red text displays: “The document must be in PDF, DOC, DOCX, JPG or TIFF - It cannot be more than 4 MB in size”.
Narrator: To upload your letter requesting an extension, you need to be signed in to your secure IRCC account.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Jane Example’s account” is shown.
The web page scrolls until the highlighted text, “View my submitted applications or profiles”, is highlighted.
Narrator: Scroll down to “View submitted applications or profile”.
Web page text, “Check status and messages”, is highlighted and clicked.
Narrator: Click “Check status and messages”.
Web page text, “View submitted application”, is highlighted and clicked.
Narrator: Click “View submitted applications”.
A web page with the heading, “Documents submitted by the client”, is shown.
Various pieces of text are highlighted as the narrator mentions them.
Narrator: There will be a list of documents that have been requested. Select “Upload File” next to the document for which you require an extension.
A web page with the heading, “Upload Your Documents”, is shown.
Various pieces of text are highlighted as the narrator mentions them.
Narrator: If you’re requesting an extension to get a police certificate, you will be asked to provide information that you won’t yet have. You will need to enter generic information to upload your letter requesting an extension. Note that you are doing this just to request an extension. Once you receive your police certificate, in order to upload and submit it to IRCC, you will need to enter the exact details found in the document.
Beside “Document Name”, enter “Request for an extension”. For the “Document Number”, enter “000000”. For the “Country of Issue”, choose your country of citizenship from the drop-down menu. For the “Issue Date”, select any date earlier than today, like last week. For the “Expiry Date”, select any date later than today, like next week. Then click “Next”.
A web page with the heading, “Upload a file”, is shown.
Various pieces of text are highlighted as the narrator mentions them.
Narrator: Select “Browse”, then choose the file in which you explain why you need an extension. Click “Upload File”.
The message “Success uploading file” will appear. Click “Return to your documents”.
A web page with the heading, “Documents submitted by client”, is shown.
Various pieces of text are highlighted as the narrator mentions them.
Narrator: Click “Next”.
A web page with the heading, “Your Declaration and Electronic Signature”, is shown.
Various pieces of text are highlighted as the narrator mentions them.
Narrator: Now that the document has been uploaded, you need to submit it.
To start this final part, scroll down. You’ll see the summary of fees from your original eTA application. Note that you will not be charged the $7 eTA fee again.
You need to give your electronic signature by typing your name. You will also have to answer one of the questions you created when you created your secure IRCC account.
Then click “Sign”.
Scroll down and click “Transmit”. Clicking “Transmit” sends your document requesting an extension to IRCC.
A web page with the heading, “Congratulations! You have successfully submitted your application or profile”, is shown.
Various pieces of text are highlighted as the narrator mentions them.
Narrator: The message “You have successfully submitted your additional or replacement document(s).” will appear on the screen.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Jane Example’s account” is shown.
Various pieces of text are highlighted as the narrator mentions them.
Narrator: Click “Exit”. You will see “Submitted” next to your application, which confirms that your document has been submitted.
Now that you know which documents you have to provide to IRCC, get them ready as soon as possible. Remember that your documents must be in English or French or be accompanied by a certified translation.
Text displays beside an icon consisting of an exclamation mark in a yellow triangle: “Remember that your documents must be in English or French or be accompanied by a certified translation”.
A laptop displaying the text, “Video 5: Upload and submit your documents – Tutorial: Submitting documents for an eTA application”, is shown
Narrator: In the next video, Video 5, you’ll learn how to upload and submit your documents to IRCC through your secure account.
A web page with the heading, “Create an account to submit documents for your eTA application”, is shown.
The text, “Create an account to submit documents for your eTA application”, is highlighted.
Narrator: Remember, if you need to sign back into your secure IRCC account at any time, go back to the “Create an account” page that was linked to in the email you received from IRCC. We recommend you bookmark this page.
The web page scrolls to the highlighted text, “GCKey sign in page”, is shown and clicked.
Narrator: Scroll down and click “GCKey sign in page”, and sign in using your GCKey username and password.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Welcome to GCKey” is shown.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada corporate signature and the copyright message “Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2016” are displayed followed by the Canada wordmark.
2. Get your requested documents
Get your requested document(s) ready as soon as possible. Remember that your document(s) must be in English or French, or be accompanied by a certified translation. This could take some time to get.
If you need a police certificate
Find your country and follow the instructions to get your police certificate.
If you can’t submit the document(s) by the deadline
You can ask for more time, but it has to be done before the deadline passes. You can only submit your request through your secure account. Don’t send any information by email.
To send us your request for an extension of your deadline, follow the instructions in video 4.
Prepare your document(s)
Make sure your document is in one of these file formats: .tiff, .jpg, .doc, .docx or .pdf. You can’t upload any other format.
The file size limit is 4MB per upload. If your file is bigger, find out how to reduce file size.
3. Upload and submit your document(s)
When your documents are ready, watch this video to see all the steps to upload and submit documents in a secure account:
Title: Video 5: Upload and submit your documents
Length: 3m51
Text version: Video 5: Upload and submit your documents – Tutorial: Submitting documents for an eTA application.
Narrator: Video 5: Upload and submit your documents
An illustrated envelope appears with a number 1 on it followed by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada corporate signature.
Narrator: You’ve received an email from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, or IRCC, asking you to submit documents to support your application for an Electronic Travel Authorization, also known as an eTA.
An illustrated briefcase appears.
Text displays: “eTA – Electronic Travel Authorization”.
Text displays: “You learned how to check your secure IRCC account to find out what documents you need to submit to IRCC”.
Narrator: In Video 4, you learned how to check your secure IRCC account to find out what documents you need to submit to IRCC.
A laptop displays a web page with the heading “Upload Your Documents”.
Narrator: Now that you’ve gathered the documents requested by IRCC, Video 5 explains how to upload and submit them through your secure account.
Text displays beside an icon consisting of an exclamation mark in a yellow triangle: “All documents must be submitted through your secure IRCC account”.
Narrator: All documents must be submitted through your secure IRCC account. IRCC will not accept documents sent by mail, courier, email or fax.
Red text appears: “IRCC will not accept documents sent by mail, courier, email or fax”.
Narrator: Here are a few tips on uploading and submitting documents:
Text displays beside an icon consisting of an exclamation mark in a yellow triangle: "Each document must be:
- In PDF, DOC, DOCX, JPG or TIFF format
- a maximum of 4 MB"
Narrator: Each document must be in one of the following formats: PDF, DOC, DOCX, JPG or TIFF. It must also be a maximum of 4 MB in size.
Text displays beside an icon consisting of an exclamation mark in a yellow triangle: “Tips to reduce the file size of a document:
- Remove any unnecessary images from your document.
- Save or scan your document at a lower resolution.
- Save Word (DOC) files in PDF format and then save at a lower resolution.”
Narrator: If you need to reduce the file size of your document, here are a few suggestions:
- Remove any unnecessary images from your document.
- Save or scan your document at a lower resolution.
- Save Word files in PDF format and then save them at a lower resolution, if needed.
An animation of a computer screen with the text , “SEARCH – How to reduce file size?”
Narrator: There are lots of instructions available on the internet to help you with this.
Once your documents are ready, sign back into your IRCC account.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Jane Example’s account” is shown.
The web page scrolls until the highlighted text, “View my submitted applications or profiles”, is highlighted.
Other pieces of text on the IRCC web pages are highlighted and/or clicked as the narrator mentions them.
Narrator: Scroll down to “View submitted applications or profile”.
Click “Check status and messages”.
Click “View submitted applications”.
There will be a list of documents that have been requested. Select “Upload File” next to the type of document you would like to upload.
For certain documents, you may be asked to provide additional information. If so, provide the details requested.
Select “Browse”. Once you have selected the proper file, click “Upload File”.
The message “Success uploading file” will appear.
Click “Return to your documents”.
Text displays beside an icon consisting of an exclamation mark in a yellow triangle: “Follow the same steps if you need to upload another document”.
Narrator: Follow the same steps if you need to upload another document.
A web page with the heading, “Documents submitted by the client”, is shown.
Various pieces of text are highlighted as the narrator mentions them.
Narrator: If you have accidentally uploaded the wrong document, you can replace it by clicking “Update information” and uploading the correct document.
Click “Next”.
Now that your documents are uploaded, you need to submit them.
A web page with the heading, “Your Declaration and Electronic Signature”, is shown.
Various pieces of text are highlighted as the narrator mentions them.
Narrator: To start this final step, scroll down. You’ll see the summary of fees from your original eTA application. Note that you will not be charged the $7 eTA fee again.
You need to give your electronic signature by typing your name. You will also have to answer one of the questions you created when you created your secure IRCC account.
Then click “Sign”.
Scroll down, and click “Transmit”. Clicking “Transmit” sends your document to IRCC.
A web page with the heading, “Congratulations! You have successfully submitted your application or profile”, is shown.
Various pieces of text are highlighted as the narrator mentions them.
Narrator: The message “You have successfully submitted your additional or replacement document(s).” will appear on the screen.
Text displays beside an icon consisting of an exclamation mark in a yellow triangle: “IRCC will review the documents you submitted to continue processing your eTA application”.
Narrator: IRCC will review the documents you submitted to continue processing your eTA application.
An illustrated envelope appears with a number 1 on it.
Narrator: You will receive an email from IRCC once a decision is made about your eTA application. This may take several days.
A web page with the heading, “Create an account to submit documents for your eTA application”, is shown.
The text, “Create an account to submit documents for your eTA application”, is highlighted.
Narrator: Remember, if you need to sign back into your secure IRCC account at any time, go back to the “Create an account” page that was linked to in the email you received from IRCC. We recommend you bookmark this page.
The web page scrolls to the highlighted text, “GCKey sign in page”, is shown and clicked.
Narrator: Scroll down and click “GCKey sign in page”, and sign in using your GCKey username and password.
A screenshot of a web page with the heading, “Welcome to GCKey” is shown.
Narrator: For more information about eTA, go to Canada.ca/eTA.
Text displays: “Canada.ca/eTA”.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada corporate signature and the copyright message “Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2016” are displayed followed by the Canada wordmark.
If you have technical issues
If you have problems with linking, uploading or any other issues, complete this enquiry form.
- Provide as many details as possible about the problem you had. Include screenshots if you can. It can take us several days to answer your enquiry.
NOTE: Make sure to check your email junk mail folder. Some spam filters may block our emails. Check the folder regularly as emails may at times be moved from your inbox to the junk mail folder.
Returning to your account
To log in to your account, go to the GCKey sign in page and enter your GCKey user ID and password.
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