On September 4, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated their processing times for various immigration applications. Keeping up with these changes is essential for applicants to plan their immigration journey effectively.
By regularly checking the latest IRCC processing times, applicants can set realistic expectations and better prepare for their application process.
These updates demonstrate IRCC’s ongoing commitment to improving and simplifying the immigration system.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the latest processing times for different immigration categories and their significance for applicants.
Summary of Processing Time Updates
Beginning in May 2024, IRCC introduced monthly updates on average processing times for citizenship applications, family sponsorships, and economic immigration.
In contrast, processing times for business immigration, temporary residency applications, and permanent resident (PR) cards are refreshed on a weekly basis.
These updates provide applicants with a more accurate expectation of how long their applications may take to be processed.
PR Card and Citizenship Processing Times
Citizenship (Updated Monthly):
- Citizenship Grant: 7 months (Unchanged since July 31, but shortened by 1 month since June 3)
- Citizenship Certificate (Proof of Citizenship): 3 months (No change since June 3)
- Renunciation of Citizenship: 16 months (Extended by 3 months since July 31)
- Search of Citizenship Records: 11 months (Reduced by 2 months since July 31)
PR Cards (Updated Weekly):
- New PR Card: 25 days (Shortened by 3 days since August 20 and by 17 days since July 30)
- PR Card Renewals: 72 days (No change since July 30, but 3 days shorter compared to June 25)
Family Sponsorship Processing Times (Monthly Updates)
Family sponsorship processing times are updated on a monthly basis, with variations depending on factors like the volume of applications received, the staff allocated to process them, and projected future submissions.
As of July 2024, the latest processing times are as follows:
Spouse or Common-law Partner:
- Outside Canada (excluding Quebec): 10 months (Unchanged)
- Outside Canada (Quebec): 35 months (Extended by 3 months since July 3)
- Inside Canada (excluding Quebec): 13 months (Extended by 2 months since July 31)
- Inside Canada (Quebec): 27 months (Extended by 3 months since July 31)
Parents or Grandparents:
- Outside Quebec: 24 months (Unchanged)
- Quebec: 48 months (Unchanged)
Processing Times for Economic Immigration
Economic immigration processing times are updated on a monthly or weekly basis, depending on the specific program.
Express Entry:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 5 months (Unchanged)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): 5 months (Unchanged)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): No updates since March 1, 2023
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) via Express Entry: 6 months (Unchanged)
Non-Express Entry:
- Non-Express Entry PNP: 12 months (Extended by 1 month since July 31)
- Quebec Skilled Workers (QSW): 9 months (Unchanged)
- Quebec Business Class: 47 months (Extended by 1 month since July 31)
- Federal Self-Employed: 48 months (Extended by 1 month since July 31)
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): 7 months (Unchanged)
- Start-Up Visa: 40 months (Extended by 2 months since July 31)
Temporary Residency Processing Times (Updated Weekly)
Processing times for temporary residency applications are updated weekly and reflect the average time IRCC takes to process the majority of applications, excluding biometric processing times.
- Visitor Visa Outside Canada (Varies by Country):
- India: 76 days (Extended by 6 days since August 27 and 13 days since August 20)
- Nigeria: 172 days (Reduced by 3 days since August 27 but increased by 1 day since August 20)
- United States: 40 days (Extended by 5 days since August 20)
- Pakistan: 38 days (Reduced by 2 days since August 27 and 9 days since August 20)
- Philippines: 25 days (Reduced by 1 day)
- Visitor Visa Inside Canada (TRV):
- Online: 26 days (Extended by 1 day since August 20)
- Visitor Visa Extension:
- Online: 109 days (Reduced by 6 days since August 27 and by 7 days since August 20)
- Parents or Grandparents Super Visa (Varies by Country):
- India: 71 days (Extended by 1 day since August 27 and 3 days since August 20)
- Nigeria: 69 days (Extended by 5 days since August 27 but reduced by 42 days since August 20)
- United States: 237 days (Extended by 33 days since August 27)
- Pakistan: 144 days (Reduced by 5 days since August 27)
- Philippines: 108 days (Unchanged since August 27 but extended by 1 day since August 20)
- Study Permit Outside Canada (Varies by Country):
- India: 5 weeks (Unchanged since August 27 but increased by 1 week since July 24)
- Nigeria: 8 weeks (Extended by 1 week since August 27 and by 2 weeks since August 20)
- United States: 12 weeks (Unchanged since August 27 but increased by 3 weeks since July 24)
- Pakistan: 9 weeks (Extended by 1 week since August 27)
- Philippines: 7 weeks (Unchanged since August 27 but reduced by 1 week since July 24)
- Study Permits:
- Inside Canada: 12 weeks (Unchanged since August 27 but extended by 1 week since August 14 and by 2 weeks since July 24)
- Study Permit Extension: 89 days (Extended by 6 days since August 27 and by 19 days since August 20)
- Work Permit Outside Canada (Varies by Country):
- India: 26 weeks (Extended by 4 weeks since August 27 and by 6 weeks since August 20)
- Nigeria: 14 weeks (Reduced by 1 week since August 27 but extended by 1 week since August 20)
- United States: 16 weeks (Extended by 1 week since August 27 but overall unchanged since August 20)
- Pakistan: 9 weeks (Reduced by 1 week since August 27 but overall unchanged since August 20)
- Philippines: 10 weeks (Extended by 2 weeks since August 27 and by 3 weeks since August 14)
- Work Permit Inside Canada:
- Online: 119 days (Unchanged since August 27 but extended by 2 days since August 20)
- Other Temporary Residency Categories:
- International Experience Canada (Current Season): 5 weeks (Unchanged since August 27 but reduced by 1 week since August 20)
- Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP): 172 days (Extended by 36 days since August 27 and by 50 days since August 20)
- Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): 5 minutes
For the latest updates on processing times and specific case inquiries, it’s advised to regularly check the IRCC website or consult an immigration professional.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the current processing time for new PR cards?
As of August 2024, the processing time for new PR cards is 25 days, reduced by 3 days since August 27 and by 14 days since July 30. - How long does it take to renew a PR card?
The processing time for PR card renewals is currently 72 days. - What is the processing time for citizenship grants?
The processing time for citizenship grants is 7 months. - How long does it take to process a spousal or common-law partner sponsorship application from outside Canada?
The processing time for sponsoring a spouse or common-law partner from outside Canada (excluding Quebec) is 10 months. - What is the processing time for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry?
The processing time for the CEC under Express Entry is 5 months. - How long does it take to process a visitor visa application for applicants from India?
The processing time for visitor visas from India is currently 76 days. - What is the current processing time for a study permit application from Nigeria?
The processing time for study permit applications from Nigeria is 8 weeks. - How long does it take to process a work permit application from the United States?
The processing time for work permit applications from the United States is 16 weeks. - What is the processing time for a Super Visa for parents or grandparents from India?
The processing time for a Super Visa for applicants from India is 71 days. - How often are IRCC processing times updated?
IRCC updates processing times monthly for citizenship, family sponsorship, and economic immigration applications, and weekly for business immigration, all temporary residency applications, and permanent resident cards.
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