Canada PR and Citizenship Processing Times Hold Steady

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released its October 9, 2026, processing times update, showing that most permanent residence (PR) and citizenship application timelines remain unchanged from September 3.

Although waiting periods have remained stable, the number of applications awaiting assessment has increased in some immigration programs and decreased in others.

Express Entry Processing Times Remain Unchanged

Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applicants continue to face an estimated six-month wait, while Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) applications take seven months.

IRCC maintains a six-month service standard for Express Entry applications. However, it does not publish a processing estimate for the Federal Skilled Trades Program because of insufficient data.

The CEC inventory declined by 5,000 applications to 53,900, while the FSWP inventory increased by 4,500 to 58,300.

Provincial Nominee and Quebec Programs

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applicants also saw no changes.

Enhanced PNP applications submitted through Express Entry take seven months, while base PNP applications take 13 months. Their respective service standards are six and 11 months.

Enhanced PNP inventory rose to 13,100 applications, while base PNP inventory dropped to 96,500.

Since June 9, 2026, a temporary measure has allowed many base PNP applicants to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) without first receiving an acknowledgement of receipt for their PR application.

In Quebec, Skilled Worker Selection Program applications remain at 11 months, while Quebec Business Class applications continue to face a 75-month wait. Their inventories stand at 20,500 and 3,600, respectively.

Other Economic Immigration Programs

The Atlantic Immigration Program continues to have a 26-month processing time, compared with its 11-month service standard. Its application inventory has declined to 11,500.

Meanwhile, the Start-Up Visa and Federal Self-Employed Persons Program both show estimated processing times exceeding 10 years.

Their inventories remain unchanged at 47,500 and 8,000 applications, respectively.

Family Sponsorship Delays Continue

Outside Quebec, inland spouse or common-law partner sponsorship applications take 26 months, while overseas applications take 18 months. Parent and grandparent sponsorship applications require 28 months.

Quebec applicants face longer waits: 32 months for inland partners, 33 months for overseas partners and 63 months for parents and grandparents.

Outside Quebec, overseas partner applications in inventory increased by 6,000 to 65,600, while parent and grandparent applications decreased by 1,900 to 35,600.

Citizenship Applications Remain Mostly Stable

Citizenship grant processing remains at 12 months, while citizenship renunciation takes four months.

However, citizenship record searches increased from 18 to 19 months.

The citizenship grant inventory dropped by 4,400 applications to 322,700.

Work Permit Options While Waiting

Eligible PR applicants in Canada may apply for a BOWP. Those who apply before their existing work authorization expires may qualify for maintained status, allowing them to continue working under their existing permit conditions while awaiting a decision.