Canada Updates Wait Times for Temporary Applicants

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has updated its temporary residence processing times, showing shorter waits for some work permit and visitor visa applicants, while super visa applicants now face longer timelines.

The update, released on June 17, compares estimated processing times with figures posted one week earlier, on June 10. These estimates help applicants understand how long their files may take, but IRCC says they do not guarantee a final decision by a specific date.

Work Permit Timelines Improve

Work permit applicants inside Canada saw the biggest improvement. Their estimated wait time dropped from 186 days to 171 days, a decrease of 15 days.

Applicants applying from Pakistan also saw a shorter timeline, falling from six weeks to five weeks. Nigeria-based work permit applicants saw their estimate decrease from 17 weeks to 16 weeks.

Applications from the United States remained at four weeks, while those from the Philippines stayed at eight weeks. The listed figure for India remained at nine weeks.

IRCC’s service standard for work permits is 120 days for applications submitted from inside Canada, including initial applications and extensions. For work permit applications submitted outside Canada, the service standard is 60 days.

Study Permit Waits Stay the Same

Study permit processing times did not change for the countries listed in the latest update.

Applicants in Canada, Pakistan and Nigeria continue to face estimated waits of six weeks. India and the United States remain at five weeks, while applicants in the Philippines continue to see a four-week estimate.

IRCC’s service standard for study permit applications is 120 days for in-Canada applications and 60 days for applications submitted from outside Canada.

Visitor Visa Results Are Mixed

Visitor visa applicants saw smaller changes. Wait times improved in several countries, but not everywhere.

Applicants in India now face an estimated wait of 24 days, down from 26 days. Pakistan fell from 46 days to 43 days. The United States dropped from 32 days to 31 days, while the Philippines improved from 19 days to 17 days.

However, applications submitted from Canada increased from 40 days to 44 days. Nigeria also rose, moving from 51 days to 53 days.

The service standard for visitor visa applications from outside Canada is 14 days.

Super Visa Waits Increase

Super visa processing times went up across all listed countries. Pakistan saw the sharpest increase, rising from 73 days to 84 days. The Philippines climbed from 34 days to 41 days. The United States increased from 96 days to 101 days.

India rose slightly from 109 days to 110 days, while Nigeria increased from 34 days to 35 days.

Super visa applications can only be submitted from outside Canada. IRCC’s service standard for these applications is 112 days.

What the Numbers Mean

IRCC processing times are estimates. Some are based on past results, while others reflect current application volumes and available processing capacity.

Service standards are different. They are internal targets for how quickly IRCC aims to complete about 80 per cent of applications under normal conditions.