IRCC Processing Times See Big Shifts In September 2025 Update

The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has just released its updated processing times as of September 17, 2025. These timelines affect everything from visiting Canada to becoming a citizen or getting permanent residence. The updates give newcomers and current applicants a better idea of how long their paperwork might take.

The estimates reflect how long it took IRCC to process 80% of recent applications. These are only averages, not promises. Delays still happen because of mistakes, busy periods, or extra background checks.

Citizenship Applications

Getting Canadian citizenship is a major step for many. As of September, it now takes about 11 months to receive a citizenship grant — one month longer than before. Proof of citizenship remains steady at five months. Renouncing citizenship now takes 10 months, up five months from the previous period. If you applied before July 14, 2025, expect your Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) soon.

Permanent Resident Cards

New permanent residents are waiting an average of 38 days for their first card, up by two days. Renewals take about 33 days, with no change. IRCC recommends double-checking all supporting documents to avoid delays.

Family Sponsorships

Bringing loved ones to Canada remains a top priority. Processing times vary based on location:

• Sponsoring a spouse from outside Canada (non-Quebec) now takes 15 months.
  
• Inside Canada applications dropped to 23 months.
  
• Quebec cases still take longer, up to 41 months.
  
• Parents and grandparents outside Quebec wait about 26 months.
  
• In Quebec, this drops slightly to 44 months.
  

The delays in Quebec are due to separate agreements with the federal government.

Passports

Passport wait times remain steady:

• In-person applications take 10 business days.
  
• By mail, expect 20 business days.
  
• Urgent and express services still meet tight deadlines.
  

Permanent Residency

Express Entry programs are still the fastest:

• Canadian Experience Class: 5 months
  
• Federal Skilled Worker: 6 months (faster by 1 month)
  
• Provincial Nominee Program (non-Express Entry): 19 months
  
• Quebec Skilled Workers: 11 months
  
• Start-Up Visa: 53 months
  
• Federal Self-Employed: a long 61 months
  

Visitor and Temporary Visas

Processing times for visitor visas from outside Canada differ by country:

• India: 69 days
  
• U.S.: 26 days
  
• Nigeria: 28 days
  
• Pakistan: 47 days
  
• Philippines: 19 days
  

Inside Canada, visitor visa decisions take around 15 days.

Super Visa timelines also vary. For example, India applicants wait about 140 days, while U.S. applicants only wait 74.

Study Permits

International students still face long waits. Study permits take:

• India: 4 weeks
  
• U.S.: 10 weeks
  
• Nigeria: 8 weeks
  
• Philippines: 5 weeks
  

Extensions inside Canada take around 174 days — a jump of 11 days.

Work Permits

Work permit times also vary:

• India: 8 weeks
  
• U.S.: 3 weeks
  
• Nigeria: 19 weeks
  
• Pakistan: 10 weeks
  

Inside Canada, permits and extensions now take 191 days.

Other Programs

• Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program: 70 days
  
• International Experience Canada: 5 weeks
  
• Electronic Travel Authorizations: just minutes in most cases
  

IRCC’s system now uses data-based models to predict processing times. These updates give more accurate forecasts based on real cases, instead of old averages.

However, the total number of pending cases still sits above 901,700. This shows the system remains under pressure, especially in slower programs like Quebec immigration and business class visas.

While Express Entry remains quick, others face longer waits. Applicants are urged to track their applications, check for updates, and submit complete documents to avoid setbacks.