Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently updated its processing times for various immigration applications, reflecting changes as of September 11 and September 4, 2024. Staying up-to-date with these updates is essential for applicants to plan and manage their immigration journey effectively.
Here’s a comprehensive look at the latest processing times across different immigration categories and what they mean for you.
Overview of Processing Time Updates
Since May 2024, IRCC has been providing monthly updates on the average processing times for citizenship applications, family sponsorships, and economic immigration. Business immigration, temporary residency applications, and permanent resident (PR) cards are updated weekly, giving applicants a clearer idea of expected wait times.
PR Cards and Citizenship Processing Times
- Citizenship (Updated Monthly):
- Citizenship Grant: 7 months (unchanged since July 31, but reduced by 1 month since June 3)
- Citizenship Certificate (Proof of Citizenship): 3 months (no change since June 3)
- Renunciation of Citizenship: 16 months (increased by 3 months since July 31)
- Search of Citizenship Records: 11 months (reduced by 2 months since July 31)
- PR Cards (Updated Weekly):
- New PR Card: 25 days (reduced by 3 days since August 20 and by 17 days since July 30)
- PR Card Renewals: 71 days (reduced by 1 day since September 4 and by 4 days since June 25)
Family Sponsorship Processing Times (Updated Monthly)
Family sponsorship processing times are influenced by application volume and available resources. As of July 2024:
- Spouse or Common-Law Partner:
- Outside Canada (excluding Quebec): 10 months (unchanged)
- Outside Canada (Quebec): 35 months (increased by 3 months since July 3)
- Inside Canada (excluding Quebec): 13 months (increased by 2 months since July 31)
- Inside Canada (Quebec): 27 months (increased by 3 months since July 31)
- Parents or Grandparents:
- Outside Quebec: 24 months (unchanged)
- Quebec: 48 months (unchanged)
Economic Immigration Processing Times
Economic immigration processing times vary based on the program:
- Express Entry:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 5 months (unchanged)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): 5 months (unchanged)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): No updates since March 1, 2023
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) via Express Entry: 6 months (unchanged)
- Non-Express Entry:
- Non-Express Entry PNP: 12 months (increased by 1 month since July 31)
- Quebec Skilled Workers (QSW): 9 months (unchanged)
- Quebec Business Class: 47 months (increased by 1 month since July 31)
- Federal Self-Employed: 48 months (increased by 1 month since July 31)
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): 7 months (unchanged)
- Start-Up Visa: 40 months (increased by 2 months since July 31)
Temporary Residency Processing Times (Updated Weekly)
Temporary residency application times vary by country and type of visa:
- Visitor Visa Outside Canada (Varies by Country):
- India: 83 days (increased by 7 days since September 4)
- Nigeria: 171 days (reduced by 1 day since September 4)
- United States: 37 days (reduced by 3 days since September 4)
- Pakistan: 35 days (reduced by 3 days since September 4)
- Philippines: 24 days (reduced by 1 day since September 4)
- Visitor Visa Inside Canada (TRV):
- Online: 26 days (no change in the last 2 weeks)
- Visitor Visa Extension:
- Online: 110 days (increased by 1 day since September 4)
- Parents or Grandparents Super Visa (Varies by Country):
- India: 77 days (increased by 6 days since September 4)
- Nigeria: 66 days (reduced by 1 day since September 4)
- United States: 237 days (unchanged since September 4)
- Pakistan: 149 days (increased by 5 days since September 4)
- Philippines: 108 days (unchanged since August 27)
- Study Permit Outside Canada (Varies by Country):
- India: 5 weeks (no change since August 27)
- Nigeria: 8 weeks (increased by 1 week since August 27)
- United States: 12 weeks (no change since August 27)
- Pakistan: 9 weeks (increased by 1 week since August 27)
- Philippines: 7 weeks (no change since August 27)
- Work Permit Outside Canada (Varies by Country):
- India: 27 weeks (increased by 1 week since September 4)
- Nigeria: 15 weeks (increased by 1 week since September 4)
- United States: 16 weeks (increased by 1 week since August 27)
- Pakistan: 8 weeks (reduced by 1 week since September 4)
- Philippines: 10 weeks (increased by 2 weeks since August 27)
- Work Permit Inside Canada:
- Online: 123 days (increased by 4 days since September 4)
- Other Temporary Residency Categories:
- International Experience Canada (Current Season): 5 weeks (unchanged)
- Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP): 260 days (increased by 88 days since September 4)
- Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): 5 minutes
For the most current information and specific case inquiries, regularly check the IRCC website or consult with an immigration professional.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the current processing time for new PR cards? As of September 11, it’s 25 days.
- How long does it take to renew a PR card? Currently, 71 days.
- What is the processing time for citizenship grants? 7 months.
- How long does it take to process a spousal or common-law partner sponsorship application from outside Canada? 10 months.
- What is the processing time for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry? 5 months.
- How long does it take to process a visitor visa application for applicants from India? 83 days.
- What is the current processing time for a study permit application from Nigeria? 8 weeks.
- How long does it take to process a work permit application from the United States? 16 weeks.
- What is the processing time for a Super Visa for parents or grandparents from India? 77 days.
- How often are IRCC processing times updated? Monthly for citizenship, family sponsorship, and economic immigration; weekly for business immigration, temporary residency applications, and PR cards.
These updates highlight IRCC’s ongoing commitment to transparency and efficiency in the immigration process, helping applicants stay informed and prepared.
