IRCC’s November Processing Times: Key Increases and What Applicants Should Know

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released updated processing times for November, and several application categories are now taking significantly longer to process.

One of the most notable increases is in the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), where processing times have risen by almost 185% compared to just six weeks ago. Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applications are now taking an extra month, and some visitor visa timelines have also increased.

This blog outlines how processing times have changed across permanent residence, family sponsorship, temporary residence, and citizenship applications.

Permanent Residence: Skilled Worker Categories

Express Entry

IRCC aims to process all Express Entry applications within six months.

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Service standards:

• Enhanced streams: 6 months
• Base streams: 11 months
  
  

Quebec Immigration (PSTQ)

There are currently around 26,400 PSTQ applications in the system, up from 24,000 on October 1.

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

AIP timelines have increased by 24 months, making this the largest delay among all categories.
Service standard: 11 months.

Family Sponsorship Applications

Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada

Spouse or Common-Law Partner Outside Canada

Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)

PGP applications for Quebec have increased by 16 months.

Dependent Child Sponsorship (In Canada)

Dependent Child Sponsorship (Outside Canada)

Service standard: 12 months.

Temporary Residence Applications

Visitor Visas

India and Pakistan show the largest increases (28 and 26 days respectively).

Work Permits

Work permits inside Canada now take roughly one additional month.
Service standards:

• Inside Canada: 120 days
• Outside Canada: 60 days (56 days for IEC)
  
  

Study Permits

Only the United States and Pakistan saw decreases in processing times.

Study permit extensions inside Canada currently take 182 days.
Service standard:

• Inside Canada: 120 days
• Outside Canada: 60 days
  
  

Super Visas

Pakistan saw the largest increase (+49 days), while U.S. applications improved by 20 days.

Service standard: 112 days.

Citizenship Applications

Service standard:

• Citizenship grant: 12 months
• No published service standard for proof of citizenship
  
  

How IRCC Measures Processing Times

IRCC processing times show how long it is expected to take for an application submitted today to receive a decision. These timelines are based on:

• Historical data
• Volume of applications currently in queue
• Monthly completion rates

The processing clock starts when IRCC receives the application and stops when a decision is issued.

IRCC clarifies that these times are estimates, not guarantees. Delays can occur due to application complexity, missing documents, additional requests for information, or unique circumstances.

Historical vs Forward-Looking Processing Times

IRCC uses two methods:

Forward-Looking (current inventory-based)

Used for:

• CEC
• FSWP
• PNP (base and enhanced)
• PSTQ
• Spouse and common-law applications
• PGP
• Citizenship grants
• Proof of citizenship
  
  

Historical (based on past 80% of finalized cases)

Used for all other categories.

What Are IRCC Service Standards?

Service standards are IRCC’s internal target timelines for processing 80% of applications. Unlike processing times, service standards do not change frequently and remain stable across the year.

Not all categories have service standards, and about 20% of applications naturally fall outside the target window due to complexity.