IRCC Reports Faster Work Permit Processing Across Countries

Canada’s immigration department has published new temporary residence processing estimates showing shorter work permit waits for applicants in most of the countries reviewed.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada released the figures on July 15, comparing them with estimates from July 7. Nigeria recorded the largest improvement, while Pakistan was the only featured country where the work permit wait increased. The figures cover six major source countries for workers, students and visitors.

Work Permit Waits Fall

Applicants applying from Nigeria now face an estimated six-week wait, down from 11 weeks. Processing from the United States dropped from four weeks to three, while the Philippines declined from seven weeks to six.

Applications submitted inside Canada fell from 127 days to 124 days, the lowest reported level this year. India remained unchanged at nine weeks. Pakistan rose from six weeks to seven.

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

Study Permit Estimates Unchanged

Study permit processing times did not change for a third consecutive week.

Applications submitted inside Canada remained at seven weeks. Estimates stayed at five weeks for India, five weeks for Nigeria, five weeks for the United States, six weeks for Pakistan and four weeks for the Philippines.

The service standard is 120 days for in-Canada study permit applications and 60 days for applications filed outside the country.

Visitor Visa Changes Remain Mixed

Visitor visa estimates declined slightly for applications from Canada and the United States. Canada’s estimate fell from 36 days to 34, while the U.S. dropped from 29 days to 28.

India stayed at 20 days, and the Philippines remained at 17. Pakistan increased by five days, from 34 to 39, while Nigeria rose from 59 days to 61.

IRCC lists a 14-day service standard for visitor visa applications made outside Canada. It does not publish an equivalent standard for applications submitted within Canada.

Super Visa Waits Rise in Most Countries

India was the only featured country to record a shorter super visa estimate, falling from 52 days to 50.

The Philippines saw the largest increase, jumping 16 days from 57 to 73. Pakistan rose from 179 days to 187, Nigeria from 33 days to 36, and the United States from 123 days to 126.

Super visa applications cannot be submitted from inside Canada. IRCC’s service standard for these applications is 112 days.

Estimates Are Not Guarantees

IRCC publishes processing times as general guidance, not guaranteed completion dates. Historical estimates show how long the department took to finalize 80 per cent of past applications. Forward-looking estimates use current application inventories and processing capacity.

Service standards are separate targets that IRCC aims to meet under normal conditions. Actual timelines may vary because of backlogs, complex cases, additional document requests or security checks.

Temporary residence estimates are updated weekly. Permanent residence and citizenship estimates are usually updated monthly, while temporary residence service standards were last revised in 2018–2019.