The immigration system of Canada is still developing and recently, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently published its most current processing times as of October 1, 2025.
With these updates, there are crucial changes that applicants need to know when determining their route to Canada, be it in visa, permanent residency, work permit, study permit, and citizenship.
So in this guide, you will see the latest IRCC processing times in all major categories of immigration, a comparison with previous processing times, and what makes them even more important than ever in 2025.
Why Tracking IRCC Processing Times Matters
IRCC processing times are more than just numbers—they determine how long applicants wait to:
Reunite with family in Canada.
Begin studies at Canadian universities.
Start work under skilled programs.
Secure permanent residency or citizenship.
We (INC – Immigration News Canada) have been keeping up with these changes since 2021 and have always provided the right timelines to guide our applicants to make the right choice.
In 2022, IRCC revamp its online processing tool to give realistic estimated timelines on 80% of cases processed rather than old static service standards.
This fact-based system will make sure that the applicants have a better idea of what they should anticipate.
Permanent residency and citizenship applications are updated monthly, temporary visas and PR cards are updated on a weekly basis.
Important: Processing time is not guaranteed, but estimated. Cases may take shorter or longer durations than the posted timelines due to individual circumstances e.g. background checks, country of application and the capacity of IRCC to handle them.
Citizenship Processing Times (Updated Monthly)
As of October 1, 2025:
Application Type
Processing Time (October 1, 2025)
Change Since Last Update
Citizenship Grant
13 months
Increased by 2 months
Citizenship Certificate*
7 months
Increased by 2 months
Resumption of Citizenship
Not enough data
No change
Renunciation of Citizenship
10 months
No change
Search of Citizenship Records
13 months
No change
*Delays for citizenship certificates may occur when requested from outside Canada or the U.S.
Latest update: IRCC is currently issuing Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) letters for applications submitted around July 21, 2025.
Permanent Resident Card (Updated Weekly)
Application Type
Processing Time (October 1, 2025)
Change since last update
New PR Card
56 days
Increased by 10 days
PR Card Renewal
32 days
Reduced by 1 day
Family Sponsorship Processing Times (Updated Monthly)
Sponsorship Category
Processing Time (October 1, 2025)
Change since last update
Spouse/Common-Law (Outside Canada, non-Quebec)
15 months
No change
Spouse/Common-Law (Outside Canada, Quebec)
41 months
No change
Spouse/Common-Law (Inside Canada, non-Quebec)
24 months
Increased by 1 month
Spouse/Common-Law (Inside Canada, Quebec)
37 months
Reduced by 1 month
Parents/Grandparents (non-Quebec)
26 months
No change
Parents/Grandparents (Quebec)
44 months
No change
Key insight: Quebec’s family sponsorship applications generally take longer due to additional provincial requirements.
Canadian Passport Processing Times
Application Type
Current Processing Time
Change
In-Canada New Passport (In-Person, Regular)
10 business days
No change
In-Canada New Passport (Mail, Regular)
20 business days
No change
Urgent Pick-Up
End of next business day
No change
Express Pick-Up
2 to 9 business days
No change
Passport Mailed from Outside Canada
20 business days
No change
Permanent Residency Economic Class (Updated Monthly)
Program
Processing Time (October 1, 2025)
Change since last update
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
6 months
Increased by 1 month
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
5 months
Reduced by 1 month
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Not enough data
No change
Provincial Nominee Program (Express Entry)
7 months
Reduced by 1 month
Non-Express Entry PNP
19 months
No change
Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW)
11 months
No change
Quebec Business Class
Not enough data
No change
Federal Self-Employed
61 months
No change
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
13 months
No change
Start-Up Visa
53 months
No change
Temporary Resident Visa Processing Times (Updated Weekly)
Visitor Visas from Outside Canada
Country
Processing Time (October 1, 2025)
Change since last update
India
75 days
+2 days
United States
23 days
-5 days
Nigeria
28 days
No change
Pakistan
46 days
+1 day
Philippines
18 days
No change
Other categories:
Visitor Visa (Inside Canada): 15 days (No change)
Visitor Record (Extension): 165 days (No change)
Super Visa Processing
Country
Processing Time (October 1, 2025)
Change since last update
India
153 days
+10 days
United States
78 days
+4 days
Nigeria
52 days
+1 day
Pakistan
151 days
+18 days
Philippines
68 days
+2 days
Study Permits
Country
Current Processing Time (October 1, 2025)
Change since last update
India
4 weeks
No change
United States
10 weeks
No change
Nigeria
8 weeks
No change
Pakistan
9 weeks
No Change
Philippines
5 weeks
No Change
Study Permit from inside Canada: 6 weeks (⬇ Reduced by 1 week)
Study Permit Extension: 171 days (⬆ +2 days)
Work Permits
Country
Current Processing Time (October 1, 2025)
Change since last update
India
8 weeks
Reduced by 1 week
United States
3 weeks
No Change
Nigeria
11 weeks
Reduced by 1 week
Pakistan
12 weeks
+1 week
Philippines
7 weeks
+1 week
Work permits from inside Canada (Initial & Extension): 196 days (⬆ +4 days)
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program: 70 days (⬆ +2 days)
International Experience Canada (IEC): 5 weeks (No change)
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
5 minutes approval in most cases.
Some applicants may face additional checks taking up to 72 hours.
The update of October 2025 indicates that although some programs such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program and PNP Express Entry have become better, other programs such as Citizenship applications, CEC and Super Visa timelines have become longer.
As Canada still receives immigrants in record numbers, processing capacity, volume of applications and regional variations (particularly in Quebec) will continue to be significant determinants of wait times.
To the applicants, it is imperative to understand such changes in order to plan on traveling, working, studying, or reuniting with their family.
To avoid such delays and unrealistic expectations, it is always better to keep in touch with the current IRCC processing times.
Latest IRCC Processing Times – October 2025 Update
The immigration system of Canada is still developing and recently, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently published its most current processing times as of October 1, 2025.
With these updates, there are crucial changes that applicants need to know when determining their route to Canada, be it in visa, permanent residency, work permit, study permit, and citizenship.
So in this guide, you will see the latest IRCC processing times in all major categories of immigration, a comparison with previous processing times, and what makes them even more important than ever in 2025.
Why Tracking IRCC Processing Times Matters
IRCC processing times are more than just numbers—they determine how long applicants wait to:
Reunite with family in Canada.
Begin studies at Canadian universities.
Start work under skilled programs.
Secure permanent residency or citizenship.
We (INC – Immigration News Canada) have been keeping up with these changes since 2021 and have always provided the right timelines to guide our applicants to make the right choice.
In 2022, IRCC revamp its online processing tool to give realistic estimated timelines on 80% of cases processed rather than old static service standards.
This fact-based system will make sure that the applicants have a better idea of what they should anticipate.
Permanent residency and citizenship applications are updated monthly, temporary visas and PR cards are updated on a weekly basis.
Important: Processing time is not guaranteed, but estimated. Cases may take shorter or longer durations than the posted timelines due to individual circumstances e.g. background checks, country of application and the capacity of IRCC to handle them.
Citizenship Processing Times (Updated Monthly)
As of October 1, 2025:
(October 1, 2025)
Last Update
*Delays for citizenship certificates may occur when requested from outside Canada or the U.S.
Latest update: IRCC is currently issuing Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) letters for applications submitted around July 21, 2025.
Permanent Resident Card (Updated Weekly)
(October 1, 2025)
last update
Family Sponsorship Processing Times (Updated Monthly)
(October 1, 2025)
last update
Key insight: Quebec’s family sponsorship applications generally take longer due to additional provincial requirements.
Canadian Passport Processing Times
Permanent Residency Economic Class (Updated Monthly)
(October 1, 2025)
last update
Temporary Resident Visa Processing Times (Updated Weekly)
Visitor Visas from Outside Canada
(October 1, 2025)
last update
Other categories:
Visitor Visa (Inside Canada): 15 days (No change)
Visitor Record (Extension): 165 days (No change)
Super Visa Processing
(October 1, 2025)
last update
Study Permits
(October 1, 2025)
last update
Study Permit from inside Canada: 6 weeks (⬇ Reduced by 1 week)
Study Permit Extension: 171 days (⬆ +2 days)
Work Permits
(October 1, 2025)
last update
Work permits from inside Canada (Initial & Extension): 196 days (⬆ +4 days)
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program: 70 days (⬆ +2 days)
International Experience Canada (IEC): 5 weeks (No change)
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
5 minutes approval in most cases.
Some applicants may face additional checks taking up to 72 hours.
The update of October 2025 indicates that although some programs such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program and PNP Express Entry have become better, other programs such as Citizenship applications, CEC and Super Visa timelines have become longer.
As Canada still receives immigrants in record numbers, processing capacity, volume of applications and regional variations (particularly in Quebec) will continue to be significant determinants of wait times.
To the applicants, it is imperative to understand such changes in order to plan on traveling, working, studying, or reuniting with their family.
To avoid such delays and unrealistic expectations, it is always better to keep in touch with the current IRCC processing times.
Author: Shubham
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