The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated their processing times for various immigration applications on September 4.
Staying up-to-date on these changes is essential for applicants to plan and manage their immigration journey effectively.
Monitoring the latest IRCC processing times helps applicants set realistic expectations and prepare for each step of their process.
These updates highlight IRCC’s ongoing efforts to enhance the immigration system and streamline application processing.
Below is a comprehensive summary of the most recent processing times across different immigration categories and their implications for applicants.
Overview of Processing Time Updates
Starting in May 2024, IRCC began providing monthly updates for citizenship, family sponsorship, and economic immigration application processing times.
Business immigration, temporary residency applications, and permanent resident (PR) card processing times are updated weekly.
These timelines give applicants a clearer view of how long it may take for a decision on their applications.
Processing Times for PR Cards and Citizenship
Citizenship (Updated Monthly):
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- Citizenship Grant: 7 months (unchanged since July 31, down 1 month since June 3)
- Citizenship Certificate (Proof of Citizenship): 3 months (unchanged since June 3)
- Renunciation of Citizenship: 16 months (up 3 months since July 31)
- Search of Citizenship Records: 11 months (down 2 months since July 31)
PR Cards (Updated Weekly):
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- New PR Card: 25 days (down 3 days since August 20 and 17 days since July 30)
- PR Card Renewals: 72 days (unchanged since July 30, down 3 days since June 25)
Family Sponsorship Processing Times (Updated Monthly)
Processing times for family sponsorship are influenced by the volume of applications, workforce availability, and anticipated demand. As of July 2024:
Spouse or Common-law Partner:
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- Outside Canada (excluding Quebec): 10 months (unchanged)
- Outside Canada (Quebec): 35 months (up 3 months since July 3)
- Inside Canada (excluding Quebec): 13 months (up 2 months since July 31)
- Inside Canada (Quebec): 27 months (up 3 months since July 31)
Parents or Grandparents:
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- Outside Quebec: 24 months (unchanged)
- Quebec: 48 months (unchanged)
Economic Immigration Processing Times
Processing times for economic immigration applications vary by program, with monthly or weekly updates.
Express Entry:
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- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 5 months (unchanged)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): 5 months (unchanged)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): No updates since March 2023
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) via Express Entry: 6 months (unchanged)
Non-Express Entry:
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- Non-Express Entry PNP: 12 months (up 1 month since July 31)
- Quebec Skilled Workers (QSW): 9 months (unchanged)
- Quebec Business Class: 47 months (up 1 month since July 31)
- Federal Self-Employed: 48 months (up 1 month since July 31)
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): 7 months (unchanged)
- Start-Up Visa: 40 months (up 2 months since July 31)
Temporary Residency Processing Times (Updated Weekly)
These times reflect how long IRCC takes to process the majority of applications, excluding biometrics:
Visitor Visa Outside Canada (Varies by Country):
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- India: 76 days (up 6 days since August 27 and 13 days since August 20)
- Nigeria: 172 days (down 3 days since August 27, up 1 day since August 20)
- United States: 40 days (up 5 days since August 20)
- Pakistan: 38 days (down 2 days since August 27, 9 days since August 20)
- Philippines: 25 days (down 1 day)
Visitor Visa Inside Canada (TRV):
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- Online: 26 days (up 1 day since August 20)
Visitor Visa Extension:
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- Online: 109 days (down 6 days since August 27, down 7 days since August 20)
Parents or Grandparents Super Visa (Varies by Country):
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- India: 71 days (up 1 day since August 27, 3 days since August 20)
- Nigeria: 69 days (up 5 days since August 27, down 42 days since August 20)
- United States: 237 days (up 33 days since August 27)
- Pakistan: 144 days (down 5 days since August 27)
- Philippines: 108 days (no change since August 27, up 1 day since August 20)
Study Permit Outside Canada (Varies by Country):
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- India: 5 weeks (unchanged since August 27, up 1 week since July 24)
- Nigeria: 8 weeks (up 1 week since August 27, 2 weeks since August 20)
- United States: 12 weeks (unchanged since August 27, up 3 weeks since July 24)
- Pakistan: 9 weeks (up 1 week since August 27)
- Philippines: 7 weeks (unchanged since August 27, down 1 week since July 24)
Study Permits Inside Canada:
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- Study Permit: 12 weeks (unchanged since August 27, up 1 week since August 14 and 2 weeks since July 24)
- Study Permit Extension: 89 days (up 6 days since August 27 and 19 days since August 20)
Work Permit Outside Canada (Varies by Country):
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- India: 26 weeks (up 4 weeks since August 27, 6 weeks since August 20)
- Nigeria: 14 weeks (down 1 week since August 27, up 1 week since August 20)
- United States: 16 weeks (up 1 week since August 27, unchanged since August 20)
- Pakistan: 9 weeks (down 1 week since August 27)
- Philippines: 10 weeks (up 2 weeks since August 27, 3 weeks since August 14)
Work Permit Inside Canada:
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- Online: 119 days (unchanged since August 27, up 2 days since August 20)
Other Temporary Residency Categories:
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- International Experience Canada (Current Season): 5 weeks (unchanged since August 27, down 1 week since August 20)
- Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP): 172 days (up 36 days since August 27, 50 days since August 20)
- Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): 5 minutes
For the latest processing times, check the IRCC website or consult an immigration expert.
