Application Number v. UCI
Application Number
An application number, as the name suggests is assigned to each application an applicant files with IRCC. Every application, even when filed by the same applicant, will have a different number and will be categorized by the type of application filed by the applicant. An application number starts with an alphabet followed by digits eg: E12345678. The alphabet signifies the type of application.
Permanent Residency – E12345678
Student Visa – S12345678
Work Permit – W12345678
Visitor’s visa – V12345678
UCI Number
UCI – “Unique Client Identifier” is a numeric reference which is unique to a client. It is assigned by Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) an applicant whose case is being processed. Each client is given a different UCI. The UCI number remains the same, even when you file multiple applications with IRCC. If you have previously applied for a tourist visa, you have already been issued a UCI number. Similarly, if you applied for a student visa, you were assigned a UCI, and when you subsequently apply for a Permanent Residency, the UCI will remain the same.
UCI consists of digits only, usually there are eight or ten digits which may or may not be separated by a hyphen, eg: 1234-5678 or 11-1234-5678.
The UCI differs from an application number in the context that an applicant can have multiple applications, each having a different application number, UCI number. Thus, UCI is client specific and not application specific.
After your submit your application, and if you have never been assigned a UCI number before, you will see a temporary UCI number starting with CAN123456. This is change to the above format after a UCI number is allocated to you.