In the past year, Canada’s immigration processing times have undergone significant changes across various immigration pathways. From permanent residence to temporary visas and citizenship services, timelines published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in mid-2025 reveal new challenges and improvements compared to those of July 2024.
This article offers an in-depth examination of the latest IRCC processing time updates, comparing current figures with those from one year ago, and highlights where delays have worsened or improvements have been made.
Also Read An Update on Canada’s Immigration Timelines in 2025
Permanent Residence: Mixed Progress Across Streams
The Express Entry system—Canada’s flagship immigration pathway for skilled workers—has seen minimal fluctuations. Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applicants still face a 5-month wait, and Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) timelines have only increased by one month (now 6 months). However, processing times for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) remain unavailable due to insufficient data.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
PNP applicants are experiencing longer waits, particularly those using non-Express Entry (base) streams. Applications submitted through the base PNP stream now take 19 months to process, up from 11 months last year. Enhanced PNP applications—aligned with Express Entry—currently take 8 months, a notable increase from 6 months in July 2024.
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
Applicants under the AIP now face a 12-month wait, marking a 5-month rise from last year’s 7-month timeline. Despite no official service standards, the AIP remains a key option for regional immigration, especially with access to temporary work permits during the PR application process.
Spousal Sponsorship
One of the most impacted streams is spousal sponsorship. Those applying through the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class (SCLPC) and intending to live outside Quebec now face a 34-month wait, a significant increase from 11 months a year ago. Applicants residing in Quebec also experience long delays, with processing times for SCLPC applicants now reaching 38 months.
Temporary Residence: Visitor and Work Permits See Varied Trends
Visitor Visas
The processing time for Temporary Resident Visas (TRVs) has improved in most countries. For instance, applications from Nigeria now take 56 days—down from 182 days. Similar reductions are observed in India (28 days, down from 51) and Pakistan (36 days, down from 47). Only the Philippines has seen a slight increase from 27 to 33 days.
In-Canada TRV processing times have also improved slightly, down to 18 days from 25.
Visitor Records
Unlike TRVs, visitor record processing times have increased significantly—from 108 days to 193 days. This document is critical for foreign nationals seeking to extend or change their visitor status while in Canada.
Work Permits
Work permit processing times show marked improvement for out-of-country applicants. For example:
- India: 7 weeks (down from 19)
- Pakistan: 5 weeks (down from 24)
- U.S.: 4 weeks (down from 18)
However, in-Canada applicants face delays, with processing now taking 182 days compared to 109 days last year.
Study Permits: Small Shifts with One Notable Delay
Outside Canada
Study permit timelines vary by origin country. For example:
- India: Down to 3 weeks (from 4)
- U.S.: Down to 7 weeks (from 9)
- Nigeria: No change at 5 weeks
Inside Canada
Applications submitted from within Canada are taking slightly longer—12 weeks now versus 10 previously.
Study Permit Extensions
One of the most striking delays is in study permit extensions, where processing times have more than tripled from 58 days to 180 days.
Citizenship Services: Modest Increases
Citizenship Grants
Applicants now wait 10 months for citizenship grant decisions, up from 7 months in July 2024. Despite the delay, the IRCC is still within its 12-month service standard.
Proof of Citizenship
Processing times for citizenship certificates have increased modestly—from 3 to 5 months. Applicants outside North America are advised to expect an additional 3 to 4 months for processing due to logistical delays.
Understanding the Difference: Processing Times vs. Service Standards
It’s crucial to differentiate between processing times and service standards:
- Processing times represent IRCC’s estimated time to process a typical application, updated regularly based on real-time data.
- Service standards are IRCC’s internal targets, aiming to process 80% of applications within a set timeline (e.g., 6 months for Express Entry).
While service standards reflect departmental goals, processing times show how long applications are actually taking—information that is vital for setting applicant expectations.
Conclusion: Navigating Canada’s Evolving Immigration System
IRCC’s current processing timelines reflect a system under pressure but also demonstrate notable efficiencies in key areas such as work permits and TRVs. However, major backlogs—especially in spousal sponsorship and visitor record processing—highlight areas that still require significant improvement.
For individuals planning to immigrate, work, study, or reunite with family in Canada, staying informed about changing timelines and consulting with trusted immigration professionals can ensure a smoother journey through Canada’s complex immigration landscape.
