IRCC Launches Personalized Processing Time Tool for PR and Citizenship

People applying for Canadian permanent residence or citizenship can now see exactly how long their applications may take. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a major update to its online processing time tool. This change gives applicants a more personal and realistic idea of their waiting time.

The tool now adjusts estimates based on when someone applied and shows where their file sits in the queue. Before this update, applicants only saw general average times for different application types. Those averages didn’t consider when a person actually submitted their application.

Temporary residence applications still follow the old system for now.

How the New Tool Works

The updated tool now asks two simple questions for certain application types.

Question one: “Have you already applied?”
Applicants can select “Yes” or “No.”

Question two: “When did you apply?”
They enter the month and year of submission.

If you have already applied, the system displays how much time remains until a decision, how many people are ahead of you, and how many total applications are in line. It even compares this with how long it would take for someone applying today.

For example, someone who applied in May 2025 through the Atlantic Immigration Program might see that about 26 months remain, with roughly 9,500 people ahead and 13,100 waiting in total. Someone applying now for the same program could see a 37-month wait.

If you have not yet applied, the system shows the current estimated processing time and total number of people waiting.

What Has Changed

The goal is simple—more transparency. The new tool lets applicants see their spot in the line rather than guessing. It helps people plan their next steps and reduces confusion about waiting periods.

In some cases, users may need to answer extra questions, usually about where they are applying from or where they plan to live.

Who Can Use the New Feature

This update applies to several key application types.

Economic immigration programs:

• Atlantic Immigration Program
  
• Express Entry streams (Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker, Provincial Nominee, Self-Employed Persons, Quebec Business Class, and Start-up Visa)
  

Family sponsorship:

• Spouse or common-law partner inside or outside Canada
  
• Parents and Grandparents Program
  

Citizenship:

• Citizenship grants
  
• Citizenship certificates (proof of citizenship)
  

Other categories:

• Humanitarian and compassionate cases
  
• Protected persons and convention refugees in Canada
  

Currently, applicants for dependent or adopted child sponsorship, or those applying to amend documents, will not see personalized updates yet.

What This Means

This change brings a new level of clarity for thousands of applicants. It helps reduce uncertainty and gives people a fair look at how long the process may take. By seeing their place in line, applicants can stay informed and manage expectations better while waiting for their decisions.