Following the submission of their application for a work visa or study permit in Canada, immigrants get concerned about how long it will take for their application to be processed. Processing times indicate how long it will take us to process an application in typical conditions.

The processing time begins on the day Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) receives an application and concludes when they make a decision. If you apply by mail, the time begins when your application reaches the IRCC mailroom. If you apply online or in person, the process begins when you submit the application.

To strengthen Canada’s immigration system, IRCC is enhancing the online processing times tool to assist new immigrants in estimating how long it would take to process a complete application.

On using the IRCC tool for timeframes, forward-looking processing timeframes are suggested that help to know how long foreigners applying today should anticipate to wait before receiving a final decision on their application (or taking the oath of citizenship, for citizenship award applicants).

The estimates will be updated regularly and will give immigrants realistic and up-to-date information, allowing them to make vacation and living plans based on a specific timeframe.

Forward-looking processing times are now available for the following applications:

Canadian Experience Class (Express Entry)
Provincial Nominees Program (Express Entry and non-Express Entry)
Federal Skilled Workers (Express Entry)
Quebec Skilled Workers
Citizenship grants
Citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship)
Spouse or common-law partner living inside Canada
Spouse, common-law or conjugal partner living outside Canada
Parents or grandparents

For the other categories of applications, IRCC will continue to employ backward-looking historical processing times. Backward-looking processing times are estimated using the time it took IRCC to process 80% of permanent residence applications in the previous 6 months, as well as 8 or 16 weeks for temporary residency programs.

FE Online found that as of May 7, 2024, the processing time for a temporary residence application for visiting, studying or working for study permit ( from outside Canada) is 14 weeks (Last updated: April 30, 2024 Updated weekly).

Similarly for a Work permit (from outside Canada), the processing time was 21 weeks. If one is not applying to work in an essential occupation, the processing time may be longer than what’s shown.

Processing time tells you how long it took us to process most complete applications in the past. It does not include the time it takes to send an application between a visa application centre and our office and the time you need to give your biometrics.

If you have already applied and are waiting for your application to be completed, the updated forward-looking times may display estimates that are shorter than the time you have actually waited. The tool displays the amount of time that a person submitting a new application today could anticipate to wait, beginning at the end of the queue. This is because a variety of factors influence our expected processing timelines at any particular point in the year.

If you have already applied, you are closer to the front of the queue. Applications will still be processed in the order IRCC receives them, and in most cases, you will wait no more than the new forward-looking processing time for a final decision. Do not reapply, as this will put your application at the end of the queue and it will take longer to process.