IRCC updates its latest application processing times, i.e., Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released its newest processing time updates for a wide range of applications, including study permits, work permits, visitor visas, permanent residence, and citizenship.
These updated timelines, made available on September 10, 2025, give applicants a clearer picture of how long it might take for their application to be reviewed. They are compared here to the previous figures published on July 23, 2025.
Temporary Residence Applications
Study Permits
Processing times for study permits continue to show differences depending on where applicants apply from. Students applying from inside Canada have seen the most significant improvement, with the wait time cut in half. However, students applying from some countries, such as Nigeria, now face longer processing periods than before.
| Applying From: | Latest Processing Time | Processing Time As Of July 23, 2025 |
| Canada | 6 weeks | 12 weeks |
| India | 4 weeks | 3 weeks |
| United States | 10 weeks | 7 weeks |
| Pakistan | 9 weeks | 11 weeks |
| Nigeria | 8 weeks | 5 weeks |
Note that processing times in the table are for first-time study permits inside Canada. Extension requests are currently taking up to 163 days.
The official service standard for study permits is 4 months for in-Canada applications and 2 months for outside Canada applications.
Work Permits
Work permit processing times are a mixed bag. Applicants within Canada continue to face significant backlogs, with processing now taking 190 days, which is well beyond the official 120-day standard. Outside Canada, times vary by country. For example, U.S. applicants have seen slight improvements, while those from Pakistan and Nigeria face steep increases compared to July.
| Applying From: | Latest Processing Time | Processing Time As Of July 23, 2025 |
| Canada | 190 days | 182 days |
| India | 8 weeks | 7 weeks |
| United States | 3 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Pakistan | 12 weeks | 5 weeks |
| Nigeria | 22 weeks | 12 weeks |
The standard remains 120 days for in-Canada applications and 60 days for outside Canada applications, except for International Experience Canada (IEC) work permits, which have a 56-day standard.
Note that the IEC allows youths from certain countries who have bilateral youth mobility agreements with Canada to access easier work permits.
Visitor Visas
Processing times for visitor visas are uneven worldwide. Applicants from Canada have benefitted from reduced timelines, but in India, the wait time has more than doubled since July.
| Applying From: | Latest Processing Time | Processing Time As Of July 23, 2025 |
| Canada | 13 days | 25 days |
| India | 63 days | 28 days |
| United States | 24 days | 21 days |
| Pakistan | 48 days | 36 days |
| Nigeria | 31 days | 56 days |
Visitor visa applications filed outside Canada carry a 14-day service standard.
Super Visa
Super visa processing times are holding steady in some countries but have shifted slightly in others. Applicants from Pakistan saw an improvement, while timelines in the U.S. rose marginally.
| Applying From: | Latest Processing Time | Processing Time As Of July 23, 2025 |
| India | 139 days | 139 days |
| United States | 89 days | 87 days |
| Pakistan | 112 days | 126 days |
| Nigeria | 55 days | 57 days |
| Philippines | 71 days | 74 days |
Super visa applications are expected to meet a 112-day service standard.
Economic Immigration
As IRCC updates its latest application processing times, the next thing to discuss is economic immigration.
Express Entry
The Express Entry system, which remains Canada’s most popular pathway to permanent residence, shows steady processing times. Both the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) are within the standard six-month timeline.
| Stream | Latest Processing Time | Processing Time As Of July 23, 2025 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 5 months | 5 months |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | 6 months | 6 months |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | N/A | N/A |
The standard for all Express Entry streams is 6 months.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
The Provincial Nominee Program shows a clear divide between enhanced and base applications. Enhanced streams are processed through Express Entry and are consistent at eight months, while base applications remain much longer, averaging 19 months.
| Stream | Latest Processing Time | Processing Time As Of July 23, 2025 |
| Enhanced (online via Express Entry) | 8 months | 8 months |
| Base | 19 months | 19 months |
Enhanced streams aim for 6 months, while base applications have an 11-month service standard.
Note that the Base stream timelines may differ depending on when a complete application is submitted.
Quebec Immigration
Quebec applicants have seen an increase in timelines for the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ). The process now takes 11 months, compared to 9 months in July, still above the six-month service standard.
| Stream | Latest Processing Time | Processing Time As Of July 23, 2025 |
| Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) | 11 months | 9 months |
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
The AIP, which helps Atlantic provinces attract workers and families, has seen a slight increase in processing time, now sitting at 13 months.
| Stream | Latest Processing Time | Processing Time As Of July 23, 2025 |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | 13 months | 12 months |
The service standard is 11 months.
Family Sponsorship
Family reunification applications remain among the longest in IRCC’s system, especially for those residing in Quebec. Processing times for spousal sponsorships have stretched significantly, in some cases taking more than four years.
| Stream | Latest Processing Time | Processing Time As Of July 23, 2025 |
| Spouse or common-law partner living inside Canada | 23 months (outside Quebec)53 months (Quebec) | 34 months (outside Quebec)38 months (Quebec) |
| Spouse or common-law partner living outside Canada | 15 months (outside Quebec)41 months (Quebec) | 11 months (outside Quebec)37 months (Quebec) |
| Parents and Grandparents Program | 26 months (outside Quebec)41 months (Quebec) | 36 months (outside Quebec)48 months (Quebec) |
The official standard for outland spousal sponsorships is 12 months. Other categories, such as PGP, do not carry service standards.
Dependent Child
Processing times for dependent child sponsorship remain high inside Canada, now standing at 29 months.
| Applying From: | Latest Processing Time | Service Standard |
| Canada | 29 months | N/A |
Citizenship
As IRCC updates its latest application processing time, let us now discuss regarding citizenship.
Processing times for citizenship remain relatively stable. Citizenship certificates (proof of citizenship) continue to meet the five-month standard, while citizenship grant applications are processed in just under the 12-month threshold.
| Stream | Latest Processing Time | Processing Time As Of July 23, 2025 |
| Citizenship grant | 11 months | 10 months |
| Citizenship certificates (proof of citizenship) | 5 months | 5 months |
Understanding How IRCC Calculates Processing Times
Processing times reflect IRCC’s estimate of how long a new application would take if filed today. These estimates are based on historical data and current inventory levels.
- Start To Finish: Timelines begin when IRCC receives a complete application and end when a decision is made.
- Two types of processing times:
- Historical times show how long it took IRCC to process 80% of applications in the past.
- Forward-looking times estimate processing based on the current number of applications and how many IRCC expects to complete each month.
Currently, forward-looking times are applied to these application types:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)
- Quebec Skilled Worker Program (PSTQ)
- Spousal/Common-law sponsorships (inland and outland)
- Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)
- Citizenship grants
- Proof of citizenship
Service standards, on the other hand, represent IRCC’s goal for processing under normal conditions. While IRCC aims to finalize 80% of cases within these standards, some applications inevitably take longer due to complexity or special circumstances.
Unlike processing times, service standards are not updated frequently and are not available for every program.
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