The processing time for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has fluctuated once again, and changes have been observed in nearly all immigration streams. Certain programs now experience longer delays, while others have seen slight reductions in processing times since mid-July 2025.
This report delves deeper into the current timelines for permanent residence, temporary residence, work and study authorization, and citizenship applications—shedding light on how these changes impact newcomers as they map their next move.
Also Read Canada Visa Processing Time Visitor
Permanent Residency Routes
Express Entry Remains Stable
IRCC’s core skilled worker program remained relatively stable. The Canadian Experience Class continues to average five months, and the Federal Skilled Worker Program was reduced from six months to seven. The Federal Skilled Trades Program continues not to report by official timelines as the case data continues not to be adequate.
IRT’s service target at the six-month mark allows the majority of Express Entry candidates to stay within predicted timelines.
Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)
More Express Entry PNP applications continue at eight months. Base PNP stream applications now take 20 months, a one-month increase from July. These statistics create a noteworthy discrepancy between current results and IRCC’s internal target of 11 months for base applications.
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
The AIP, designed to support settlement in Atlantic Canada, has stretched slightly to 13 months from 12 months. Despite the increase, this pathway still allows many applicants to work temporarily in Canada while awaiting a final decision.
Family Sponsorship Experiencing Protracted Delays
Family reunification is the one affected the most. Spousal and common-law sponsorships now take 40 months in Quebec and 36 months in the rest of Canada. Family Class applications take 13 months outside Quebec and 41 months inside Quebec.
While IRCC aims at settling overseas Family Class sponsorships in 12 months, the processing in Quebec in effect goes beyond this target.
Temporary Residency Applications
Visitor Visas from Outside Canada
Visa issuance rates for January continue unevenly:
- India: Jumped to 58 days from 28.
- Pakistan: Up 48 days, from 36.
- Nigeria: Faster at 32 days, down from 56.
- Philippines: Reduced from 33 days to 20.
- United States: Slightly longer at 23 days.
The best improvement was in the Philippines and Nigeria.
Visitor Visa in Canada
- Domestic applications in process are proceeding faster, to 14 days from 18.
- For those who are targeting a longer stay, the deadlines have decreased from 193 days to 176 days.
Work Permit Applications
Outside Canada
The processing times differ significantly depending on the place of application submission:
- India: 8 weeks (up from 7).
- Pakistan: 9 weeks (up from 5).
- Nigeria: 11 weeks (slightly shorter than 12).
- Philippines: Steady at 6 weeks.
- United States: 3 weeks (down from 4).
Pakistan saw maximum growth, and American candidates are also seeing the fastest results.
Inside Canada
Local candidates now have 188 days, one day more than July’s 182 days timeframe.
Study Permits
Outside Canada
Processing times remain uneven:
- India: Unchanged at 3 weeks.
- Pakistan: Reduced from 11 to 9 weeks.
- Nigeria: Increased from 5 to 8 weeks.
- Philippines: Shortened from 10 to 7 weeks.
- United States: Lengthened from 7 to 10 weeks.
Inside Canada
The in-Canada study permit application processing now takes an average of 10 weeks instead of 12.
Extensions
Permit applicants for renewal now have 164 days rather than 180.
Citizenship Applications
Citizenship Grants
The processing time remains the same at 10 months, also within IRCC’s 12-month service standard.
Evidence of Citizenship Certificates
These still take 5 months for U.S. and Canadian candidates, and overseas applications might take 3-4 additional months.
Why Service Benchmarks and Processing Times Vary
Here again, you should notice that published processing times and IRCC service standards are distinct. Service standards are benchmarks- IRCC is aiming to complete 80% of the applications in these targets. Published processing times, however, reveal the current median wait that applicants are enduring.
Backlogs, application spikes, and policy shifts cause fluctuations. So you see certain categories- such as Quebec sponsorships- now significantly exceed target time periods and others stick closer to IRCC targets.
Conclusion
From years of waiting in line for spousal sponsorships to student permit extensions being processed in a shorter period of time, the September 2025 update reveals how volatile Canadian immigration processing can be. To those who plan on making an application, keeping track of IRCC’s weekly reports and also preparing the necessary documents meticulously can facilitate a smoother process and build realistic expectations.
