IRCC Update: Visitor Visas Speed Up as Work Permit Delays Grow

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada released fresh processing timelines for temporary resident applications. The update covers visitor visas, work permits, study permits, and super visas. The new figures show a clear pattern. Visitor visas now move faster for some applicants, while work permits take longer in several regions.

Visitor visas bring some relief

Visitor visa applicants from India saw the biggest improvement. Processing time dropped by more than two weeks, offering quicker decisions for travellers and families. Applicants from Pakistan and the United States experienced little change, with wait times holding steady.

Applicants inside Canada faced a slightly longer wait than before. Nigerian applicants also saw a small rise in processing time. Even with these changes, visitor visas remained the most consistent category overall. Applications from outside Canada still move closer to the department’s service goal, while no fixed target exists for those applying within the country.

Work permits slow down

Work permit processing showed the most uneven results. Applicants from Pakistan and the United States now wait much longer than they did in mid-January. Processing times for people applying inside Canada also increased, adding weeks to already long waits.

Indian applicants saw a slight improvement, with timelines shortening by about a week. Nigerian applicants experienced a small drop as well. Despite these few gains, work permits remain the slowest and least predictable option among temporary resident applications.

Study permits stay steady

Study permits showed the least movement. Most regions reported the same timelines as before, with only small increases of about one week in a few countries. This stability suggests that student applications continue to move at a steady pace without major delays or speedups.

Applicants from Canada, Pakistan, and the United States saw no change. India and Nigeria recorded minor increases, but overall processing stayed within a narrow range. For students planning their studies, this consistency provides some certainty.

Super visas face sharp contrast

Super visa processing brought mixed news. Applicants from Pakistan and Nigeria saw modest improvements, with slightly shorter waits. Indian applicants experienced a small increase.

The biggest shift affected applicants from the United States. Their processing time doubled in just two weeks. The sharp rise likely reflects a sudden increase in applications, which added pressure to processing queues.

How processing times work

Processing times reflect estimates for new applications submitted today. The clock starts when officials receive an application and ends with a final decision. Many factors influence the timeline, including case details and how quickly applicants respond to requests.

Service standards act as internal targets for most cases, but some files take longer due to added checks. Not every application type includes a set standard, and officials do not update those targets as often as processing estimates.