Canada’s October 2025 IRCC Update Reveals Longer Processing Delays

Canada’s immigration department has released the latest processing times for October 2025, outlining how long it currently takes for visas, work permits, study permits, permanent residency, and citizenship applications. These updates matter greatly for those planning to study, work, or settle in Canada, as wait times have shifted in several categories.

IRCC’s new data shows that while some programs have seen faster results, others now take longer than before. The department updates its numbers regularly, giving applicants a clearer picture of what to expect before applying.

Why the Updates Matter
Processing times shape the lives of thousands of people waiting to reunite with family, begin new jobs, or start school in Canada. They help applicants plan their travel, housing, and work schedules. However, these timelines are only estimates, not promises. Factors like background checks, document issues, or the applicant’s country can affect results.

IRCC updates permanent residency and citizenship times once a month, while temporary visas and PR cards are refreshed weekly. This helps provide real-time insight into how fast the system is moving.

Citizenship and PR Card Updates
As of October 9, 2025, a citizenship grant takes about 13 months, two months longer than before. A citizenship certificate now requires 8 months, up by three months. The delay mainly affects those applying from outside Canada or the United States.

For permanent residents, a new PR card now takes 61 days, while renewals are faster at 30 days.

Family Sponsorship Applications
Wait times for sponsoring family members vary. Applications for spouses or partners outside Canada take around 15 months, while those within Canada can take up to 22 months. Parents and grandparents wait even longer—26 months for non-Quebec residents and 44 months for those applying in Quebec. Quebec’s longer processing comes from its separate approval steps.

Humanitarian and Refugee Cases
The slowest movement remains in Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) applications and protected persons cases. Both categories now take over ten years in some regions, showing no major improvement from previous months.

Work and Study Permit Waits
Processing times for temporary residents also changed. A work permit inside Canada now averages 223 days, a jump of more than three weeks. For those applying abroad, the average wait ranges from four to eleven weeks, depending on the country.

Study permit processing varies as well: four weeks from India, six weeks from the United States, and up to twelve weeks from Pakistan. Students extending their permits from inside Canada face waits of about 167 days.

Visitor and Super Visas
Visitor visas now take longer too. The wait for applicants from India is 86 days, while those from the United States face a 40-day average. Super Visa applicants, who travel to visit family long-term, wait 167 days from India and 178 days from Pakistan.

Mixed Results Across Programs
Some economic immigration streams improved slightly. The Provincial Nominee Program under Express Entry dropped to seven months, while non-Express Entry PNP files now take 16 months, down by three months. However, Atlantic Immigration Program and Start-Up Visa cases have grown much slower—both now taking several years.

Planning Ahead
Experts suggest applicants track these updates regularly to stay prepared. Processing times often change based on the number of applications and staff capacity. Keeping up-to-date helps applicants plan better and avoid unexpected setbacks.