IRCC updates July 28 processing times for permits
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released updated processing time estimates on July 28, 2026, showing longer wait periods for several temporary residence applications.
The latest figures indicate that work and study permit processing times have increased for certain countries, including Pakistan and Nigeria, compared with the previous update issued on July 22.
The adjustments reflect ongoing fluctuations in application volumes and operational capacity as Canada continues to process a high number of temporary residence requests.
- Work permit processing rose by one week for Pakistan and Nigeria
- Study permit timelines also increased for the same two countries
- Visitor visa processing improved slightly within Canada and the United States
- Super visa processing times increased in most countries except the U.S.
- IRCC continues to update temporary residence processing estimates weekly
Work permit processing times show mixed changes
IRCC’s latest update shows varied movement in work permit processing durations depending on where applications are submitted. While some regions recorded slight improvements, others experienced increases.
Applications submitted from within Canada saw a marginal decrease, with processing times estimated at 120 days, down from 122 days in the previous update.
Among overseas applicants, Pakistan saw its estimated processing time rise to 11 weeks, up from 10 weeks, while Nigeria increased to 7 weeks from 6 weeks.
In contrast, processing times for applicants in the Philippines dropped from 7 weeks to 6 weeks, indicating some localized improvements in processing efficiency.
Estimates remained unchanged for India at 9 weeks and the United States at 3 weeks.
IRCC maintains service standards of 120 days for in-Canada work permit applications and 60 days for those submitted outside the country.
Study permit wait times increase after stable period
After several weeks of stability, study permit processing times rose for specific countries in the latest update. Pakistan and Nigeria both recorded increases of one week.
Pakistan-based applications are now estimated at 7 weeks, compared to 6 weeks previously, while Nigeria increased to 6 weeks from 5 weeks.
Other regions remained unchanged, including Canada at 7 weeks, India at 5 weeks, the United States at 5 weeks, and the Philippines at 4 weeks.
IRCC applies the same service standards for study permits as for work permits, with a 120-day target for in-Canada applications and 60 days for those filed abroad.
Visitor visa processing shows minor fluctuations
Visitor visa processing times displayed relatively minor changes across most countries, with slight improvements in Canada and the United States.
Applications submitted from within Canada decreased to 24 days from 29 days, while U.S.-based applications improved slightly to 26 days from 27 days.
However, increases were recorded in several other countries. India rose to 22 days from 21 days, Pakistan to 43 days from 40 days, Nigeria to 64 days from 63 days, and the Philippines to 17 days from 16 days.
IRCC’s service standard for visitor visas submitted outside Canada remains at 14 days, although actual timelines vary depending on operational conditions.
Super visa processing times trend upward
Processing times for super visas increased in most regions covered by the July 28 update, with the exception of the United States, where timelines remained unchanged at 124 days.
India saw an increase to 52 days from 49 days, while Pakistan rose to 196 days from 194 days. Nigeria’s estimate moved to 41 days from 39 days, and the Philippines increased to 73 days from 68 days.
Super visa applications are submitted exclusively from outside Canada, and IRCC maintains a service standard of 112 days for these applications.
Understanding IRCC processing times and service standards
IRCC distinguishes between processing time estimates and service standards, which serve different purposes within the immigration system.
Processing times are published to indicate how long it has recently taken to finalize most applications. These figures are typically based on either historical data or current processing capacity.
Historical processing times reflect how long it took to complete 80% of applications over a previous period, while forward-looking estimates are calculated using current inventory and available resources.
Service standards, by contrast, represent internal benchmarks that outline how quickly IRCC aims to complete applications under normal operating conditions.
These targets are not guarantees, and individual application timelines can vary due to factors such as case complexity, document requirements, and overall demand.
Application volumes continue to influence timelines
IRCC reported that more than 1.2 million temporary residence applications were finalized between January and May 2026, highlighting the scale of current processing activity.
Despite this volume, over 404,000 applications remained in inventory as of May 31, contributing to ongoing pressure on processing timelines.
Weekly updates to temporary residence processing times provide a snapshot of how these pressures evolve over time. Permanent residence and citizenship timelines are typically updated on a monthly basis.
Service standards, however, are revised less frequently and have not seen significant changes for temporary residence categories since 2018–2019.
Broader immigration context
Temporary residence programs, including work permits and study permits, form a significant component of Canada’s overall immigration system. Many applicants who enter under these pathways later transition to permanent residence through federal or provincial programs.
Provincial nominee programs, such as the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), remain part of broader immigration pathways that interact with temporary residence streams.
Processing timelines can influence when applicants move between temporary and permanent categories, although IRCC manages these streams separately.
Ongoing updates expected
IRCC is expected to release its next update to temporary residence processing times around August 5, 2026, continuing its weekly reporting cycle.
The July 28 update reflects incremental changes across multiple application categories, with notable increases in specific regions and modest improvements in others.
As of late July, work permit processing in Pakistan reached 11 weeks and super visa timelines in the same country extended to 196 days, illustrating the variation across programs and regions.
Further updates will continue to provide insight into how application volumes and processing capacity affect timelines across Canada’s temporary immigration system.