Canadian Immigration Processing Times Updated – July 2025

How IRCC Processing Times Have Changed Since July 2025

If you’ve submitted or are planning to submit an immigration application, you’re probably wondering: how long will it take? The truth is, IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) processing times can fluctuate—and lately, there have been some notable changes.

Since July 17, 2025, IRCC has updated processing timelines for most application categories, including permanent residence, study permits, work permits, visitor visas, and citizenship applications. While some categories have remained stable, others have seen noticeable delays or improvements.

In this post, we’ll walk you through the latest updates so you can better understand what to expect and how it might impact your immigration journey to Canada.

Key Highlights

• Express Entry timelines remain mostly the same, with a slight increase for Federal Skilled Workers.
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) base stream processing has increased by one month.
• Work and Study Permits show mixed changes depending on location and country.
• Visitor visa processing times have increased for most countries, but improved for Nigeria and the Philippines.
• Family sponsorship applications are taking longer, especially for those intending to live in Quebec.
• Citizenship applications remain stable and within IRCC’s service standards.

Permanent Residence Application Timelines

Express Entry Programs

Processing times for Express Entry streams have mostly held steady. The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) remains at 5 months, while the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) has increased slightly to 7 months from 6. The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) still doesn’t have a published timeline due to limited data.

IRCC’s service standard: 180 days for Express Entry applications.

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

If you’ve applied through the PNP, here’s the scoop:

• Enhanced PNP (via Express Entry): Still holding at 8 months.
• Base PNP (non-Express Entry): Now takes 20 months—an increase from 19 months.

Planning to apply through Manitoba’s PNP? Check your eligibility and potential points with our Manitoba PNP calculator.

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

Applications under the AIP now take 13 months, up from 12. One advantage with AIP is its special work permit, which allows applicants to work in Canada while their application is being processed.

Family and Spousal Sponsorship

Processing times here vary depending on location and application type:

• Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada (SCLPC), outside Quebec: 36 months (up from 34).
• Family Class, outside Quebec: 13 months (from 11).
• Spousal Sponsorship inside Quebec: 40 months (from 38).
• Family Class, inside Quebec: 41 months (up from 37).

IRCC service standard: 12 months for Family Class overseas applications.

Temporary Residence Updates

Visitor Visas (TRV)

Outside Canada

Visitor visa processing times vary significantly by country. Here’s a quick look at a few:

• India: 58 days (up from 28)
• Pakistan: 48 days (up from 36)
• Nigeria: 32 days (down from 56)
• Philippines: 20 days (down from 33)
• USA: 23 days (slight increase from 21)

IRCC’s service standard: 14 days for TRVs.

Inside Canada

For those applying within Canada, it’s gotten quicker—processing now takes 14 days, down from 18.

Visitor Records

If you’re extending your stay or changing your status in Canada, visitor record processing has improved slightly—176 days now versus 193 in July.

Work Permit Processing Times

Outside Canada

Processing timelines for work permits vary based on the applicant’s country of origin:

• India: 8 weeks (was 7 weeks)
• Pakistan: 9 weeks (was 5 weeks)
• Nigeria: 11 weeks (down from 12)
• Philippines: 6 weeks (unchanged)
• United States: 3 weeks (down from 4 weeks)

Inside Canada

In-Canada work permit applications—whether new or extensions—now take 188 days, slightly up from 182.

IRCC service standards:

• 60 days for applications from outside Canada.
• 120 days for in-Canada applications and extensions.

Study Permit Timelines

Outside Canada

Here’s how long it’s currently taking for study permits by country:

• India: 3 weeks (unchanged)
• Pakistan: 9 weeks (down from 11)
• Nigeria: 8 weeks (up from 5)
• Philippines: 7 weeks (down from 10)
• USA: 10 weeks (up from 7)

Inside Canada

Processing times for in-Canada study permits are down to 10 weeks from 12.

IRCC service standards:

• 60 days for applications outside Canada.
• 120 days for those submitted within.

Study Permit Extensions

For students extending their stay, the wait time has gone down slightly to 164 days from 180.

Canadian Citizenship Applications

Citizenship Grants

No change here—applications are still being processed in 10 months, which is well within IRCC’s 12-month service standard.

Proof of Citizenship Certificates

These take about 5 months for applicants within Canada or the U.S. If you’re applying from abroad, expect an additional 3–4 months of processing time.

Understanding Processing Times vs. Service Standards

It’s easy to confuse the two, but processing times and service standards aren’t the same.

Processing times reflect actual data—how long it’s taken recently to process applications of a certain type. These numbers are updated regularly based on real-world trends and backlogs.

Service standards, on the other hand, are IRCC’s internal goals. For example, IRCC aims to process 80% of visitor visa applications within 14 days—but that doesn’t mean every file will be. Complex cases or high volumes can stretch timelines.

Final Thoughts

Processing times are always subject to change, so it’s important to stay informed and track updates directly from IRCC. If you’re waiting on an application or thinking of applying, consider timelines carefully when planning your move, study, or travel to Canada.

For tailored advice on your immigration journey, we encourage you to consult with a Canadian immigration expert or explore our helpful tools like the MPNP Points Calculator.

Need help understanding your immigration options? Reach out to our immigration professionals today for a free eligibility assessment.