UCI in a Canada visa means Unique Client Identifier – it is your personal immigration ID number issued by IRCC that stays with you for life and is used to track all your applications and history.

What is UCI in Canada visa?

  • UCI stands for Unique Client Identifier.
  • It is sometimes also called Client ID , Client Identification Number , or Immigration ID Number.
  • It is assigned by IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) the first time you apply for something, such as a visitor visa, study permit, work permit, eTA, PR, etc.
  • The same UCI is used for all your future Canadian immigration applications, so it becomes your permanent immigration identity number.

Think of it like a customer number with IRCC: one person, one UCI , for all their files.

What does a UCI look like?

Common formats include:

  • 8‑digit format: 1234-5678
  • 10‑digit format: 01-2345-6789

Key points:

  • Both 8‑digit and 10‑digit UCIs are valid and work the same way.
  • On some documents it may appear without hyphens (e.g., 12345678).
  • You might also see temporary “UCI‑style” numbers starting with CAN , X , or T (like CAN000123456789), which IRCC later replaces with a permanent 8‑ or 10‑digit UCI.

Where can you find your UCI?

On Canadian immigration documents, UCI is usually printed clearly with labels like “UCI” or “Client ID”.

Typical places you can see it:

  • Visitor visa (TRV) / visa sticker in your passport
    • Near the top section of the visa sticker, close to application number, category, or issue details, labeled UCI or Client ID.
  • Study or work permit
    • On the permit document, often near the top, with format like 0000-0000 or 00-0000-0000.
  • PR card or other IRCC letters
    • On your PR card and official letters or emails from IRCC about your application.

If you ever received any IRCC document (e.g., eTA approval, refusal letter, permit, visa), your UCI will usually be somewhere on it.

Do you already have a UCI?

  • You only get a UCI after your first interaction with Canadian immigration (eTA, visa, permit, PR, sponsorship, refugee case, etc.).
  • If you have never applied for anything related to Canada immigration, you do not have a UCI yet, and that is normal.
  • If a form asks for UCI and this is your first-ever application, you should leave it blank ; IRCC will assign one during processing.

UCI vs application number vs document number

People often confuse these three, especially when tracking their visa online.

Here is a quick breakdown:

[1][3][7] [5][9][7] [3][7][1] [2][7][3] [2][3]

[7][3] [3][7][2] [2][3] [7][3][2]
Type What it is Format example How many you get
UCI (Unique Client Identifier) Your permanent personal ID with IRCC; used across all applications.1234-5678 or 01-2345-6789.Only one per person (stays the same for life).
Application number Number for a specific application (study, work, PR, etc.).Starts with letters like E, V, S, W, F, C, L, H, D, EP plus digits. Different for each application/file.
Document number Number printed on a specific document (permit, visa, PR card, certificate).Varies by document type.One per document; changes when a new document is issued.
Understanding these helps you give IRCC the **right** number when you call or submit a web form, avoiding delays caused by referencing the wrong file.

Why is UCI important for your Canada visa?

Your UCI allows IRCC to:

  • Link all your past and current applications.
  • See your immigration history, previous refusals or approvals, and PR records.
  • Reduce duplicate files and confusion when you change representatives or submit new applications.

For you, it is useful because:

  • You can use it to help track your application status and identify yourself when contacting IRCC.
  • It ensures all your new applications are correctly tied to your existing history.

Simple example

Imagine you first applied for a visitor visa in 2022 and got a UCI like 1234-5678.

  • In 2024, you apply for a study permit ; you will still use the same UCI 1234-5678 even though the study permit has a different application number and document number.
  • Later, you apply for PR or spousal sponsorship ; again, your UCI stays the same, only the application number changes for each new file.

Quick answers to common doubts

  • “Is UCI the same as application number?”
    • No, UCI identifies you , application number identifies one specific application.
  • “Does UCI change if I reapply?”
    • Normally no; it is designed to stay the same for life, across all your applications.
  • “What if this is my first time applying?”
    • Leave UCI blank; IRCC will create one for you.
  • “Is UCI on my Canada visitor visa sticker?”
    • Yes, visitor visas usually show your UCI near the top, sometimes labeled UCI or Client ID.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.