The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) delivered new updated processing times for March 5th 2025 which introduced several notable changes.
The clarity of these processing durations proves essential for immigration planning because all visa, permanent residency and citizenship applicants need to know their application times.
We summarize current processing data and older updates to show you how long your application process may take.
INC – Immigration News Canada has persistently tracked IRCC processing times since 2021 through delivering updated information to its readers.
During 2022 the IRCC rewrote its processing tool to display real-time processing windows that left behind old static service standards. Through this new approach applicants gain better visibility of the upcoming process.
Monthly updates have replaced the weekly updates IRCC used to provide for applications pertaining to citizenship as well as permanent residency and family sponsorship.
The processing timelines for both permanent residency and citizenship applications consider the time required for eighty percent of completed cases.
Permanent resident cards together with temporary residence visa wait periods receive regular weekly revisions by IRCC.
The updates combine application statistics with operational capabilities of IRCC to present shifting processing data.
These estimates serve only as indicators since they provide no guarantees about processing times. Your application processing duration can differ from stated durations because of varying situations although the standard duration matches 80% of applications.
The following discussion will focus on current Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada processing durations for PR cards as well as citizenship applications, family sponsorships, passports, economic-class residencies, and temporary resident visas.
Citizenship and PR Cards Processing Times (Updated monthly and weekly)
| Application Type | Current Processing Time (March 4, 2025) | Change Since Last Update |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse/Common-Law (Outside Canada, excluding Quebec) | 11 months | Increases by 1 month |
| Spouse/Common-Law (Outside Canada, for Quebec) | 35 months | Reduces by 1 month |
| Spouse/Common-Law (Inside Canada, Non-Quebec) | 24 months | Reduces by 4 months |
| Spouse/Common-Law (Inside Canada, for Quebec) | 35 months | Increases by 1 month |
| Parents/Grandparents PR (Non-Quebec) | 33 months | Reduces by 1 month |
| Parents/Grandparents PR (Quebec) | 48 months | No Change |
*Note: Citizenship certificate delays may occur for requests from outside Canada and the U.S.
Citizenship Update: IRCC is currently issuing Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) letters/emails to applicants who submitted citizenship applications (paper or online) around February 10, 2025.
Family Sponsorship Processing Times (Updated monthly)
| Application Type | Current Processing Time (March 4, 2025) | Change From Last update |
|---|---|---|
| In-Canada New Passport (In-Person, Regular) | 10 business days | No Change |
| In-Canada New Passport (Mail, Regular) | 20 business days | No Change |
| In-Canada Urgent Pick-Up | By end of next business day | No Change |
| In-Canada Express Pick-Up | 2 to 9 business days | No Change |
| Regular Passport (Mailed from Outside Canada) | 20 business days | No Change |
Key Insight: Quebec-specific timelines differ from the rest of Canada, reflecting regional processing variations.
Canadian Passport Processing Times
Permanent Residency Economic Class (Updated Monthly)
| Application Type | Current Processing Time (March 4, 2025) | Change Since Last Update |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 5 months | No Change |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | 5 months | Reduces by 1 month |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)* | Not enough data | No Change |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) via Express Entry | 7 months | Increases by 1 month |
| Non-Express Entry PNP | 21 months | No change |
| Quebec Skilled Workers (QSW) | 9 months | No Change |
| Quebec Business Class (Entrepreneurs/Investors/Self-Employed) | 71 months | No Change |
| Federal Self-Employed | 49 months | No Change |
| Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) | 10 months | Increases by 1 month |
| Start-Up Visa | 40 months | No Change |
Temporary Resident Visas Processing Times (Updated Weekly)
| Country | Current Processing Time (March 5, 2025) | Change since last update |
|---|---|---|
| India | 105 days | Reduces by 9 days |
| United States | 22 days | Reduces by 4 days |
| Nigeria | 145 days | Reduces by 3 days |
| Pakistan | 16 days | Increases by 1 day |
| Philippines | 14 days | No Change |
1. Visitor Visa from outside Canada varies by country
2. Visitor Visa (Inside Canada): 18 days (Reduces by 5 days)
3. Visitor extension (Visitor record): 116 days (Reduces by 3 days)
4. Super Visa (parents and grandparents) varies by country
| Country | Current Processing Time (March 5, 2025) | Change since last update |
|---|---|---|
| India | 125 days | Reduces by 3 days |
| United States | 246 days | Increases by 24 days |
| Nigeria | 41 days | Reduces by 3 days |
| Pakistan | 106 days | Increases by 45 days |
| Philippines | 129 days | Reduces by 5 days |
5. Study Permit from outside Canada varies by country
| Country | Current Processing Time (March 5, 2025) | Change since last update |
|---|---|---|
| India | 15 weeks | No Change |
| United States | 5 weeks | Reduces by 3 weeks |
| Nigeria | 7 weeks | No Change |
| Pakistan | 9 weeks | No Change |
| Philippines | 5 weeks | No Change |
6. Study Permit from inside Canada: 3 weeks (No Change)
7. Study Permit Extension: 112 days (No Change)
8. Work Permit from outside Canada varies by country:
| Country | Current Processing Time (March 5, 2025) | Change since last update |
|---|---|---|
| India | 20 weeks | No Change |
| United States | 81 weeks | Increases by 66 Weeks |
| Nigeria | 16 weeks | Increases by 1 week |
| Pakistan | 8 weeks | No Change |
| Philippines | 5 weeks | Reduces by 1 week |
9. Work permit from inside Canada (initial and extension): 114 days (Reduces by 3 days).
10. Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP): 12 days (No change)
11. International Experience Canada (IEC): Current season: 2 weeks (Increases by 1 week)
12. Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): 5 minutes, but don’t wait until the last minute to apply. As per IRCC, “Some applications need more time to be processed. In these cases, you will receive an email within 72 hours with next steps.”
Why These IRCC Processing Times Matter in 2025
Understanding IRCC processing times is essential for anyone navigating Canada’s immigration system.
Whether you’re reuniting with family, seeking work, or pursuing citizenship, these timelines help set realistic expectations.
With monthly updates and data-driven insights, IRCC’s tool offers transparency into application processing trends as of March 2025.
Stay ahead by saving and sharing this page for the latest updates!
Share this guide with friends or family planning their Canadian journey, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.