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What is AOR? PR Milestones Explained
Between submitting your application and holding your PR card, IRCC sends a series of updates — each with its own acronym. If you have ever stared at "AOR," "BIL," "PPR," or "eCOPR" wondering what just happened, this guide is your map. We list the milestones in the order they usually arrive.
The milestones, in order
ITA — Invitation to Apply
If you are in the Express Entry pool, the journey begins with an ITA: an invitation, issued in a draw, to apply for permanent residence. You then have 60 days to submit a complete e-APR. Your CRS score determines whether you receive one; after the ITA, it no longer matters.
AOR — Acknowledgement of Receipt
AOR stands for Acknowledgement of Receipt. Shortly after you submit your application, IRCC confirms it has been received and is in the queue. This is the single most important date to record: nearly every estimate that follows — biometrics, medicals, and the final decision — is measured from your AOR date. Moose anchors your entire timeline to it.
Log your AOR once, track everything after
Enter your AOR date in Moose and watch every downstream milestone and estimate fall into place automatically.
Biometrics & medicals
Soon after AOR, most applicants receive a Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL) and must give fingerprints and a photo at a collection point (unless still valid from a prior application). Around the same time you complete an immigration medical exam (IME) with a panel physician. When your account shows "medical passed," or the requirement is met, that box is checked.
Background & eligibility checks
This is the quiet stretch. IRCC verifies your eligibility, reviews documents, and runs security and criminality (background) checks. It is usually the longest phase and often the most anxiety-inducing because there may be no visible updates for weeks. No news here is normal.
PPR — Passport Request
PPR stands for Passport Request (you may also see "Ready for Visa" or "R4V"). This is the milestone applicants celebrate most: IRCC has approved the application and asks for your passport to finalize documents. For candidates already in Canada, this step may instead lead straight to confirmation.
COPR & PR card
The Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) — increasingly issued electronically as an eCOPR — is the document that makes you a permanent resident. Your physical PR card arrives by mail afterward. From here, a new clock begins: your countdown to Canadian citizenship.
Applicant slang you'll see online
- Ghost update — an unexplained change to your account (like a new email flag) that hints IRCC touched your file.
- DM — "Decision Made," a status that appears near the end of processing.
- P1 / P2 — informal names for the first and second processing/payment stages some applicants track.
- Landing — the moment you formally become a PR, whether at a border, airport, or online.
Moose turns all of these into a friendly, illustrated timeline — so instead of decoding forum acronyms at midnight, you see exactly where you are and what is next. Download Moose free →
Frequently asked questions
What does AOR mean?
AOR stands for Acknowledgement of Receipt. It is the confirmation IRCC sends after you submit your complete application for permanent residence, telling you the application has been received and the processing clock has started.
What is PPR?
PPR stands for Passport Request (also called 'Ready for Visa'). It is the near-final step where IRCC asks for your passport to issue your Confirmation of Permanent Residence and, if applicable, a visa.
What is a ghost update?
A 'ghost update' is applicant slang for a change to your online account — such as a new email or a status refresh — that hints IRCC has touched your file, often before an official message appears.
