Processing times for many types of applications to Canada’s immigration department have changed over the past year.
In this article, we review processing times published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as of the time of writing, compared to those of July 2024.
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Permanent residence applications
Express Entry
Express Entry applications have been the least affected by processing time fluctuations compared to other temporary and permanent residence (PR) applications over the past year:
*IRCC has not released processing times for current or July 24, 2024, FSTP applications, citing that there is “not enough data.”
IRCC service standard: 180 days.
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Provincial Nominee Program
Processing times for PR applications submitted through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) have increased:
| Application type | Current processing time | Processing time as of July 24, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Through Express Entry | 8 months | 6 months |
| Not through Express Entry | 19 months | 11 months |
Enhanced (Express Entry-aligned) PNP applicants continue to benefit from faster processing.
IRCC service standards:
- 11 months for base PNP applications submitted online; and
- 180 days for enhanced PNP applications submitted electronically.
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Atlantic Immigration Program
The current-day processing time for AIP applications is five months longer than it was approximately one year ago:
| Current processing time | Processing time as of July 24, 2024 |
|---|---|
| 12 months | 7 months |
The immigration department does not provide service standards for AIP applications.
AIP applicants can obtain special work permits, issued for up to two years, enabling them to begin working while their applications are being processed.
Spousal sponsorship
Canadian citizens and permanent residents may apply to sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for permanent residency in Canada.
Processing time for spousal sponsorship varies depending on the following factors, including
- Whether you’re applying through the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class (SLCPC) or Family Class; and
- Whether you and your spouse plan to reside inside or outside the province of Quebec.
| Class and destination | Current processing time | Processing time as of July 24, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| SCLPC, intending to reside outside Quebec | 34 months | 11 months |
| Family Class, intending to reside outside Quebec | 11 months | 10 months |
| SCLPC, intending to reside in Quebec | 38 months | 28 months |
| Family Class, intending to reside in Quebec | 37 months | 32 months |
While processing delays affected all family sponsorship categories, the most notable surge was for SCLPC applicants intending to reside outside Quebec—where wait times grew by 23 months from July 2024 to present.
IRCC service standard: 12 months for Family Class overseas (priority).
IRCC does not publish service standards for SCLPC applications.
Sponsor your spouse/partner for permanent residence
Temporary residence applications
Visitor visas
Nationals of certain countries require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to enter the country temporarily, while others are exempt from needing a visa.
Outside Canada
Processing times for visitor visa applications submitted from abroad depend on the country you are applying from.
| Country | Current processing time | Processing time as of July 24, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| India | 28 days | 51 days |
| Pakistan | 36 days | 47 days |
| Nigeria | 56 days | 182 days |
| Philippines | 33 days | 27 days |
| United States | 21 days | 29 days |
Processing times have dropped for all countries listed, aside from the Philippines.
Out of all these countries, Nigeria had the biggest drop in TRV processing time.
IRCC service standard: 14 days for applications submitted outside Canada.
Inside Canada
The majority of visitor visas are issued to foreign nationals applying from abroad, but you can apply for a visitor visa from within Canada as well.
| Current processing time | Processing time as July 24, 2024 |
|---|---|
| 18 days | 25 days |
IRCC does not currently publish service standards specific to in-Canada TRV applications.
Visitor records
A visitor record is a document that allows you to extend or change your status while in Canada.
| Current processing time | Processing time as of July 24, 2024 |
|---|---|
| 193 days | 108 days |
Compared to approximately one year ago, the processing time for visitor records has increased by nearly three months.
Visitor record applications can only be submitted from within Canada, and applications must be submitted online—except for those needing accommodation.
Work permits
Work permit applications are subject to different processing times depending on whether they are submitted from inside or outside Canada.
In most cases, individuals applying for a work permit must do so from outside Canada—and processing times for such applications are country-dependent.
Outside Canada
When applying for a work permit from outside Canada, the processing time varies depending on the country from which the application is made.
The table below compares processing times for work permit applications from the five previously mentioned countries, on both July 24, 2024, and at the time of this writing.
| Country | Current processing time | Processing time as of July 24, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| India | 7 weeks | 19 weeks |
| Pakistan | 5 weeks | 24 weeks |
| Nigeria | 12 weeks | 14 weeks |
| Philippines | 6 weeks | 9 weeks |
| United States | 4 weeks | 18 weeks |
All five countries have seen reduced processing times for work permit applications—some significant (India, Pakistan, and the US) and others less so (Nigeria and the Philippines).
Inside Canada
Provided they meet IRCC’s eligibility criteria, certain foreign nationals are permitted to apply for a work permit from inside Canada.
At the time of this writing, processing times for work permits submitted from within Canada have increased by more than 10 weeks.
| Current processing time | Processing time as of July 24, 2024 |
|---|---|
| 182 days | 109 days |
IRCC’s published processing time for in-Canada applications consist of initial applications and extensions.
IRCC service standards:
- 60 days for initial work permit applications submitted from outside Canada; and
- 120 days for initial work permits and work permit extensions submitted from inside Canada.
Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm
Study permits
The time frame for processing study permit applications is contingent upon whether they are submitted from within Canada or from abroad.
Study permit applications made outside Canada are country-dependent, resulting in variations depending on the applicant’s location.
Outside Canada
Processing times for study permit applications from the aforementioned countries, both current and from July 2024’s end are as follows:
| Country | Current processing time | Processing time as of July 24, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| India | 3 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Pakistan | 11 weeks | 9 weeks |
| Nigeria | 5 weeks | 5 weeks |
| Philippines | 10 weeks | 8 weeks |
| United States | 7 weeks | 9 weeks |
Inside Canada
IRCC’s processing times for study permit applications submitted from within Canada have gone up slightly when compared to approximately one year ago.
| Current processing time | Processing time as of July 24, 2024 |
|---|---|
| 12 weeks | 10 weeks |
IRCC service standards:
- 120 days for initial study permit applications submitted within Canada; and
- 60 days for study permit applications submitted outside Canada.
Study permit extensions: The processing time for study permit extensions has more than tripled over the past year.
| Current processing time | Processing time as of July 24, 2024 |
|---|---|
| 180 days | 58 days |
IRCC service standard: 120 days.
Discover your options to study in Canada
Citizenship and proof of citizenship
Citizenship grants
Processing times for citizenship grants have increased by three months when compared to approximately one year ago.
| Current processing time | Processing time as of July 24, 2024 |
|---|---|
| 10 months | 7 months |
The immigration department applies the same processing timelines to citizenship grant applications regardless of whether they are submitted from within or outside Canada.
Service standard: 12 months.
Schedule a Free Canadian Citizenship Consultation with the Cohen Immigration
Law Firm
Citizenship certificates (proof of citizenship)
Processing times for citizenship certificates are considerably shorter when compared to economic and temporary residence applications, especially for those living in Canada or the US.
| Current processing time | Processing time as of July 24, 2024 |
|---|---|
| 5 months | 3 months |
If you live outside Canada or the US or are applying through a Canadian embassy, high commission, or consulate, the immigration department recommends adding three to four months to the expected processing time.
IRCC does not publish service standards for citizenship certificates.
A citizenship certificate is a government-issued document that validates an individual’s Canadian citizenship.
You must apply for proof of citizenship, as it is not automatically issued upon gaining Canadian citizenship. This is especially relevant to those who were born outside Canada and obtained Canadian citizenship by descent.
Get a Free Legal Consultation on Applying for Proof of Canadian Citizenship
Processing times versus service standards
Processing times and service standards are distinct and should not be conflated.
Processing times
These are estimates of the length of time a typical applicant can expect their application to be processed within, for a specific application type.
Processing times are measured from the date an application is received by IRCC, up until a decision is made on the application.
The immigration department routinely updates its published processing times based on historical processing data and on current application inventories.
Published processing times are estimates only; actual processing durations for any given application type may be shorter or longer than the posted estimate.
IRCC routinely updates its processing times to provide applicants with an estimate of standard processing times under normal operational conditions.
Processing times may fluctuate due to various factors, including application volumes, existing backlogs, or modifications to policies and procedures.
Depending on the application type, processing times may be updated on a weekly or monthly basis.
IRCC initiates the processing of your application at the time it is received.
Service standards
Service standards represent IRCC’s internal benchmarks for the expected time frames within which applications should be processed.
IRCC aims to process 80% of applications of a given type within services standards, with the expectation that around 20% of applications will require additional time due to their complexity.
Service standards represent departmental goals rather than guarantees.
Consult with an experienced immigration representative