Processing times
How long IRCC is currently taking, by program and by country. An estimate for an application submitted today, never a promise.
What these numbers mean. IRCC publishes estimated processing times for applications submitted today, looking ahead at the current queue. If the Express Entry CEC figure says “6 months,” that is IRCC’s estimate of how long a new application would take given the workload right now. It is not how long your already-submitted file will take from today.
These are estimates to help you plan, never a guarantee. IRCC updates them periodically as their queue and staffing change. If you have already submitted your application, use IRCC’s published estimate as broad context only. Your actual timeline depends on your file, your stream, your office, background checks, document requests, and IRCC’s own processing decisions.
Showing 55 programs across 7 categories.
Express Entry
4 programs- Canadian Experience Class6 months
- Federal Skilled Trades (Express Entry)Not enough data
- Federal Skilled WorkerAbout 6 months
- Provincial Nominee Program (Express Entry)About 7 months
Permanent residence — other
7 programs- Atlantic Immigration ProgramAbout 26 months
- CaregiversAbout 78 months
- Provincial Nominee Program (base)About 13 months
- Quebec Business ClassAbout 75 months
- Quebec Skilled Worker11 months
- Self-employed (Federal)Not enough data
- Start-up VisaNot enough data
Family & spousal
10 programs- Dependent children abroadAbout 40 months
- Dependent children abroad (Quebec)Not enough data
- Parents and grandparentsAbout 29 months
- Parents and grandparents (Quebec)About 64 months
- Spouse or partner abroadAbout 17 months
- Spouse or partner abroad (Quebec)About 33 months
- Spouse or partner in CanadaAbout 27 months
- Spouse or partner in Canada (Quebec)About 32 months
Citizenship
6 programs- Citizenship certificate (proof)About 25 months
- Citizenship for adopted personsPart 1: 4 months
- Citizenship grantAbout 12 months
- Citizenship records search17 months
- Citizenship renunciation4 months
- Citizenship resumptionNot enough data
Permits
6 programs- International Experience Canada7 weeks
- Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program84 days
- Study permit (extension)66 days
- Work permit (extension)119 days
Visitor & travel
11 programs- Amend immigration document8 weeks
- Amend travel document6 weeks
- Electronic Travel Authorization5 minutes
- PR card (new)41 days
- PR card (renewal)41 days
- Replacement document7 weeks
- Verification of status10 weeks
- Visitor record (extension)418 days
- Visitor visa (inside Canada)15 days
Refugee & humanitarian
11 programs- Government-assisted refugeesAbout 14 months
- Government-assisted refugees (Quebec)About 9 months
- Humanitarian and compassionateNot enough data
- Humanitarian and compassionate (Quebec)Not enough data
- Privately sponsored refugeesAbout 40 months
- Privately sponsored refugees (Quebec)About 54 months
- Protected persons in CanadaAbout 13 months
- Protected persons in Canada (Quebec)Not enough data
These are IRCC’s official estimates for a fresh application submitted today, looking ahead at the current queue. Each figure is measured in months (or weeks) from submission to a decision, not from any other milestone. This is an estimate to help you plan, never a promise, and IRCC updates the figures from time to time.
If you have already submitted your application, your personal processing time started from your own submission date. Check the latest on canada.ca
Wondering how your wait compares?
Official estimates show broad, program-level timing. See where your specific AOR date and stream actually falls among real applicants.
Compare my wait