How IRCC Processing Times Have Changed Since Mid-July 2025

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regularly updates its application processing times. Since mid-July 2025, there have been several changes across different categories, including permanent residence, work permits, study permits, temporary resident visas, and citizenship applications.

Below, we break down how these timelines compare to July 17, 2025.

Permanent Residence Applications

Express Entry

Processing times for Express Entry programs have stayed mostly stable:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 5 months (no change)
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): 7 months (up from 6 months)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): Not published (due to insufficient data)
  
  

Service standard: 180 days

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

• Enhanced PNP (through Express Entry): 8 months (no change)
• Base PNP (not through Express Entry): 20 months (up from 19 months)
  
  

Service standards: 180 days for enhanced; 11 months for base (online)

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

• Current time: 13 months (up from 12 months)

AIP applicants may qualify for a special work permit to work in Canada while waiting.

Family and Partner Sponsorship

Processing times have increased across most categories:

• Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada (outside Quebec): 36 months (up from 34)
• Family Class, outside Quebec: 13 months (up from 11)
• Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Quebec: 40 months (up from 38)
• Family Class, in Quebec: 41 months (up from 37)
  
  

Service standard: 12 months for Family Class overseas

Temporary Residence Applications

Temporary Resident Visas (TRVs) – Outside Canada

Processing times now vary by country:

• India: 58 days (up from 28)
• Pakistan: 48 days (up from 36)
• Nigeria: 32 days (down from 56)
• Philippines: 20 days (down from 33)
• United States: 23 days (slightly up from 21)
  
  

India saw the largest increase, while Nigeria and the Philippines improved.

Service standard: 14 days

TRVs – Inside Canada

• Current time: 14 days (down from 18 days)
  
  

Visitor Records

• Current time: 176 days (down from 193 days)
  
  

Work Permits

Outside Canada

Processing varies by country:

• India: 8 weeks (up from 7)
• Pakistan: 9 weeks (up from 5)
• Nigeria: 11 weeks (down from 12)
• Philippines: 6 weeks (no change)
• United States: 3 weeks (down from 4)
  
  

Pakistan saw the most significant increase, while the U.S. and Nigeria saw improvements.

Inside Canada

• Current time: 188 days (up from 182 days)

Service standards: 60 days (abroad), 120 days (inside Canada)

Study Permits

Outside Canada

• India: 3 weeks (no change)
• Pakistan: 9 weeks (down from 11)
• Nigeria: 8 weeks (up from 5)
• Philippines: 7 weeks (down from 10)
• United States: 10 weeks (up from 7)
  
  

Inside Canada

• Current time: 10 weeks (down from 12 weeks)
  
  

Study Permit Extensions

• Current time: 164 days (down from 180 days)

Service standards: 60 days (abroad), 120 days (inside Canada)

Citizenship Applications

Citizenship Grants

• Current time: 10 months (no change)
  Service standard: 12 months
  
  

Proof of Citizenship (Citizenship Certificates)

• Current time: 5 months (no change)
  Applications from abroad may take 3–4 months longer.
  
  

Processing Times vs. Service Standards

• Processing times are estimates based on past data and current inventory. They can change weekly or monthly.
• Service standards are IRCC’s internal targets. The department aims to process 80% of applications within these timelines, though complexity and volume can cause delays.
  
  

Key Takeaway

Since mid-July 2025, processing times have shifted across many immigration categories. While some, like visitor records and study permits inside Canada, have improved, others—especially spousal sponsorships and TRVs from India—now face longer waits.

If you’re planning to apply for immigration to Canada, it’s important to check the most recent IRCC updates and prepare your application carefully to avoid additional delays.