Latest IRCC Processing Times Updated August 2025

Canada’s immigration timelines continue to send a mixed message to newcomers: some pathways are moving steadily, while others are stretching out, especially in family sponsorship and certain business related programs.

The latest published processing estimates show that many core programs have held their ground since July, but several categories have quietly grown longer. For applicants, the takeaway is simple. Your choice of stream, and whether your case touches Quebec’s additional steps, can change your wait by months or even years.

Citizenship: steady for most applicants, with one notable speed-up

For permanent residents working toward Canadian citizenship, the estimated wait for a citizenship grant sits at 10 months, unchanged from the previous update. Proof of citizenship is listed at 5 months, also steady. Applicants applying from outside Canada or the United States should still plan for possible delays because overseas verification steps can add time.

One category is moving faster: renunciation of citizenship is down to 5 months, shortened by about two months. That points to more streamlined handling for this niche process. Meanwhile, a search of citizenship records remains a slow track at 14 months, even after a modest improvement.

What this means for future citizens: citizenship is not speeding up dramatically, but it is also not deteriorating. For many newcomers, that predictability helps with planning travel, job changes, and long-term settlement steps.

PR cards: quick turnaround remains the bright spot

PR card processing continues to look relatively healthy compared with other areas:

• New PR cards: 36 days
• PR card renewals: 32 days, up slightly by one day

These are strong timelines by historical standards. The slight bump in renewals suggests demand is rising, but the overall picture still favors PR holders who need documents for travel or proof of status.

Practical note: even with fast processing, travel planning still matters. A PR card is not the only way to return to Canada, but relying on alternate documentation can add stress and paperwork.

Family sponsorship: longer waits, especially for Quebec

Family reunification is where applicants are most likely to feel the system slowing.

Estimated processing times now include:

• Spouse or common-law partner outside Canada (non-Quebec): 13 months (up about two months)
• Spouse or common-law partner outside Canada (Quebec): 41 months (up about three months)
• Spouse or common-law partner inside Canada (non-Quebec): 36 months (up about two months)
• Spouse or common-law partner inside Canada (Quebec): 40 months (up about two months)

Parents and grandparents sponsorship remains lengthy and unchanged:

• Parents and grandparents (non-Quebec): 36 months
• Parents and grandparents (Quebec): 48 months

The Quebec gap stands out. The province’s distinct selection and approval layers can add significant time. For families deciding where to settle, these numbers are not just administrative details. They can shape where couples live, when they can reunite, and how long families remain separated.

Passports: stable service levels for new Canadians

For new citizens, Canadian passport timelines appear stable:

• In-person applications: 10 business days
• Mail applications: 20 business days
• Urgent pickup: by end of next business day
• Express pickup: 2 to 9 business days
• Applications mailed from outside Canada: 20 business days, though extra verification can slow some files

This consistency is useful for newcomers who need to book international travel soon after becoming citizens.

Economic permanent residence: Express Entry stays competitive on speed

Processing estimates for economic PR streams show a clear pattern. Express Entry aligned routes remain the faster option.

Key timelines include:

• Canadian Experience Class: 5 months
• Federal Skilled Worker Program: 7 months
• PNP via Express Entry: 8 months
• Quebec Skilled Workers: 9 months

In contrast, non Express Entry and specialized programs take longer:

• Non Express Entry PNP: 20 months (up about one month)
• Atlantic Immigration Program: 13 months (up about one month)
• Start-Up Visa: 52 months (up about one month)
• Federal Self-Employed: 60 months (up about two months)

The business and self-employed categories remain the slowest, largely because they require deeper review of experience, finances, and eligibility details. For entrepreneurs, this is a reminder that Canada’s “innovation” lane is not necessarily a fast lane.

Temporary visas: country differences remain significant

Temporary resident processing times continue to vary sharply by country and by application type.

Visitor visas (outside Canada)

Current estimates include:

• India: 54 days (up about nine days)
• United States: 24 days (no change)
• Nigeria: 36 days (down about five days)
• Pakistan: 47 days (down slightly)
• Philippines: 20 days (down about two days)

Inside Canada, visitor visas are listed at 15 days, while visitor extensions remain long at 180 days, even with a small improvement.

Super Visa for parents and grandparents

Super Visa processing remains uneven:

• India: 139 days
• United States: 87 days
• Nigeria: 57 days
• Pakistan: 126 days
• Philippines: 74 days (showing a notable improvement)

Study permits

Outside Canada:

• India: 3 weeks
• United States: 10 weeks
• Nigeria: 6 weeks
• Pakistan: 9 weeks
• Philippines: 7 weeks

Inside Canada, study permits are around 6 weeks, while extensions are listed at 173 days, slightly longer than before.

Work permits

Outside Canada:

• India: 8 weeks
• United States: 4 weeks
• Nigeria: 10 weeks
• Pakistan: 7 weeks
• Philippines: 6 weeks

Inside Canada, including extensions, the wait is far longer at 187 days, up slightly again. This ongoing gap is important. Many newcomers assume inland extensions are routine. In reality, they can take months and can affect job continuity, travel plans, and employer confidence.

The bigger picture: what applicants should read between the lines

Several themes emerge from these timelines:

1. Express Entry remains the speed leader for economic PR. If you qualify, it often provides a clearer and faster path than non Express Entry routes.
2. Family sponsorship is under pressure. Rising volumes appear to be pushing timelines upward, and Quebec cases face the biggest delays.
3. In-Canada extensions are a bottleneck. Visitor, study, and work extensions processed inside Canada are consistently measured in months, not weeks.
4. Business immigration moves slowly. Start-Up Visa and self-employed categories remain long-horizon plans, not quick solutions.

How newcomers can plan around these waits

If you are building a Canada immigration strategy, these steps can reduce risk:

• Start early if your status depends on an extension. A long extension timeline can collide with expiring documents.
• Choose the fastest eligible stream, not the most familiar one. Many applicants default to a pathway recommended by friends, even if it is slower for their profile.
• Factor Quebec timelines into family decisions. If sponsorship speed is critical, provincial differences matter.
• Keep documentation clean and complete. A missing form or unclear proof can turn an estimate into a much longer real wait.

Processing times are estimates, not guarantees. Still, they are a useful planning tool. For newcomers, the smartest approach is to treat these timelines as a baseline, then add buffer time for life events like travel, job transitions, and school start dates.

Disclaimer Statement: This content is authored by a 3rd party and regenerated by AI tools. GCMS Notes Request does not guarantee, vouch for or endorse any of its contents nor is responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that any information and content provided is correct, updated, and verified. GCMS Notes Request hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, relating to the report and any content therein. Reference