IRCC Processing Time Trends: PNP & Express Entry Updates 2024

How IRCC Processing Times Have Changed Over the Past Year

• IRCC updates processing times regularly to reflect current application inventory and timelines.
• Express Entry and PNP streams have seen mixed results—some timelines remain steady, while others have nearly doubled.
• Spousal sponsorship and Atlantic Immigration Program applications have experienced significant increases in wait times.
• Visitor and work permit processing varies dramatically by country, with some countries seeing sharp improvements.
• Study permit processing times have improved considerably, especially for in-Canada applications.
• Citizenship application times have slightly increased, but remain within IRCC’s service standards.

When you’re applying to immigrate, visit, work, or study in Canada, one of the most common questions is: How long will it take?

To help manage expectations, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regularly updates its processing times based on application type and location. These updates reflect how long it typically takes for applications to be processed under normal circumstances, and they can fluctuate due to several factors—like application volume, staffing levels, and policy changes.

Let’s take a closer look at how IRCC’s processing times have changed from June 2024 to now—so you can better plan your journey to Canada.

Permanent Residence Applications

Express Entry

Express Entry continues to be a relatively stable immigration pathway. For the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), processing times have held steady at about five months. However, the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) no longer has available data as of now, though it was six months back in June 2024.

Current Processing Times:

• CEC: 5 months
• FSWP: 5 months
• FSTP: N/A

IRCC’s service standard: 6 months (180 days).

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Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

If you’re applying through a PNP, your timeline can vary significantly depending on whether your stream is connected to Express Entry. Express Entry-aligned applications have actually gotten a bit faster, dropping from six to five months. On the other hand, base stream (non-Express Entry) applications have ballooned from 11 to 20 months.

Current Processing Times:

• Enhanced (Express Entry): 5 months
• Base (non-Express Entry): 20 months

IRCC’s service standards:

• 180 days for Express Entry-aligned applications
• 11 months for base PNP streams

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Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

If you’re considering moving to one of the Atlantic provinces, you’ll want to know that AIP processing times have increased from 7 months in June 2024 to 11 months today.

The good news? AIP applicants can apply for a special work permit that allows them to start working while they wait for their permanent residency decision.

IRCC service standard: Not published for AIP.

Spousal Sponsorship

Processing times for spousal sponsorship have seen some dramatic swings. The most significant jump is for those applying under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class (SCLPC) who intend to live outside Quebec. That wait time has nearly tripled—from 10 to 29 months.

Notable Changes:

• SCLPC (outside Quebec): 29 months (up from 10)
• Family Class (outside Quebec): Stable at 10 months
• SCLPC (in Quebec): Slightly down from 28 to 26 months
• Family Class (in Quebec): 36 months (up from 34)

IRCC service standard: 12 months for Family Class (outside Quebec). No standard published for SCLPC.

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Temporary Residence Applications

Visitor Visas

If you’re planning a trip to Canada, visitor visa processing times will vary based on whether you apply from within Canada or abroad. For in-Canada applications, processing times have increased slightly from 20 to 23 days. For international applicants, times have generally dropped—with Nigeria showing the most improvement (from 177 days to 100 days).

IRCC service standard: 14 days for outside Canada applications.

Find tips to strengthen your visitor visa application

Visitor Records

Want to extend your stay as a visitor? The processing time for visitor records has increased significantly—from 88 days last year to 161 days today.

Work Permits

Processing timelines for work permits vary widely depending on where you apply from:

• Inside Canada: Up from 101 to 238 days
• Outside Canada: Improvements across the board—for example, Pakistan’s processing time dropped from 31 weeks to just 6 weeks.

IRCC service standards:

• 60 days for outside Canada applications
• 120 days for in-Canada applications

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Study Permits

If you’re planning to study in Canada, you’ll be pleased to know that in-Canada application times have drastically improved—from 14 weeks to just 5 weeks.

For applications made abroad, timelines vary by country. For instance:

• India: 10 weeks
• Nigeria & USA: 5 weeks
• Pakistan & Philippines: 17 weeks

IRCC service standards:

• 120 days for in-Canada applications
• 60 days for outside Canada applications

Study Permit Extensions

There’s good news here as well—processing times have dropped from 236 days to just 55 days over the past year.

Discover your options to study in Canada

Citizenship Applications

Citizenship Grants

For permanent residents applying to become Canadian citizens, processing times have increased slightly from 8 to 10 months. That’s still within IRCC’s 12-month service standard.

Citizenship Certificates (Proof of Citizenship)

If you were born outside Canada and need proof of Canadian citizenship, timelines are currently around 4 months—up just a bit from 3 months last year. If you’re applying from outside Canada or the U.S., expect an additional 3–4 months on top of that.

Schedule a Free Canadian Citizenship Consultation

What’s the Difference Between Processing Times and Service Standards?

This is an important distinction:

• Processing times show how long applications actually took to process recently.
• Service standards are IRCC’s goals for how quickly they aim to process 80% of applications.

Remember, just because your application falls within a certain service standard doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to be completed in that time. Some applications—especially complex ones—may take longer.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re applying for permanent residence, a visitor visa, a work or study permit, or Canadian citizenship, staying on top of IRCC’s published processing times can help you plan and avoid surprises. While some categories have seen impressive improvements, others—especially spousal sponsorships and base PNP streams—have experienced notable delays.

Need help navigating the process? Don’t hesitate to reach out to an experienced immigration representative who can guide you through the system and help avoid unnecessary delays.

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