Check Latest IRCC Processing Times As Of March 2025 – Major Update!

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.