Regulation 12 — Application — foreign national
Text of provision
Subject to section 140.4, if the requirements of sections 10 and 11 are not met, the application and all documents submitted in support of it, except the information referred to in subparagraphs 12.3(b)(i) and (ii), shall be returned to the applicant.
Plain English
Regulation 12 governs where and how foreign nationals must submit applications. Applications may be required to be submitted at a visa application centre, at an IRCC office, electronically through a designated online portal, or at a port of entry in prescribed circumstances.
The method and location of submission can affect processing times and requirements. Some permit applications (e.g., work permits for certain categories) may be made at the port of entry on arrival.
Practical effect
Most applications for visas and permits are now submitted electronically through the IRCC portal. Paper submissions are still accepted for some application types. For in-Canada extensions and change-of-status applications, submission must be made before the expiry of current status to preserve maintained status. Port-of-entry applications are available for specific work permit categories (e.g., CUSMA professionals) and are not available for all applicants.