How Long Will Your Canadian
Immigration Application Take?
IRCC updates processing times weekly for temporary residence and monthly for permanent residence and citizenship. We track every release and translate the numbers into plain language — so you always know exactly where you stand.
Waiting is Hard. Uncertainty is Worse.
One of the most common questions we hear at eHouse is: “How long is this going to take?” It’s a fair question — and a critical one. Whether you’re planning a move, renewing your status, or sponsoring a family member, processing timelines directly affect your life and your plans. This page gives you IRCC’s most current published timelines by application type, explains the factors that influence processing, and tells you exactly what you can do to avoid unnecessary delays.
Processing times are based on how long IRCC took to finalize 80% of complete applications. Your actual timeline may be shorter or longer. Temporary residence times are updated weekly; permanent residence and citizenship are updated monthly. eHouse monitors every release but recommends verifying directly on canada.ca for the most current figures.
5+
Years of Experience
Current IRCC Processing
Times — March 2026
All figures below are drawn from IRCC's official processing time dashboard, last refreshed March 9–11, 2026. Times apply to complete applications submitted online unless noted.
Express Entry — Permanent Residence
(Updated Monthly | Last updated:
March 9, 2026)
| Application Type | Processing Time | Change vs. February |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 7 months | No change |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | 7 months | No change |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) | Insufficient data | — |
IRCC's service standard for all Express Entry streams is 6 months. Current real-world processing is running one month over that target. The CEC queue grew by approximately 10,100 applicants in March alone — the largest single-month jump in any economic category this year.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
(Updated Monthly | Last updated:
March 9, 2026)
| Application Type | Processing Time | Change vs. February |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced PNP (Express Entry) | 7 months | No change |
| Base PNP (Paper Stream) | 13 months | No change |
Note: The service standard for enhanced PNP is 6 months; for base PNP applications it is 11 months. Both streams are currently running over their service standards.
Quebec Immigration (Updated Monthly
| Last updated: March 9, 2026)
| Application Type | Processing Time | Change vs. February |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) | 11 months | No change |
Family Sponsorship — Permanent Residence
(Updated Monthly | Last updated:
March 9, 2026)
| Application Type | Processing Time | Change vs. February |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse / Common-Law – Outside Canada (non-Quebec) | 15 months | No change |
| Spouse / Common-Law – Outside Canada (Quebec) | 35 months | No change |
| Spouse / Common-Law – Inside Canada (non-Quebec) | 21 months | No change |
| Spouse / Common-Law – Inside Canada (Quebec) | 36 months | +1 month ⚠ |
| Parents & Grandparents – Non-Quebec | 34 months | −1 month ✓ |
| Parents & Grandparents – Quebec | 46 months | −1 month ✓ |
Note: IRCC's published service standard for spousal/common-law sponsorship outside Canada is 12 months. Most streams are significantly over that target. Parents and grandparents sponsorship showed the most positive movement this month across all family class categories.
Work Permits (Updated Weekly |
Last updated: March 11, 2026)
| Application Origin | Processing Time | Change vs. Feb 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Canada | 259 days (~8.5 months) | +3 days ⚠ |
| India | 7 weeks | −1 week ✓ |
| Pakistan | 30 weeks | No change |
| Nigeria | 13 weeks | +2 weeks ⚠ |
| United States | 9 weeks | −1 week ✓ |
| Philippines | 7 weeks | New data |
Service standard: 120 days for in-Canada applications; 60 days for outside Canada applications; 56 days for International Experience Canada (IEC) permits.
Note: In-Canada work permit processing has climbed significantly from 210 days at the end of 2025 to 259 days in March 2026 — a 48-day increase in just over two months. Applicants are strongly advised to file well before their current status expires.
Study Permits (Updated
Weekly | Last updated:
March 11, 2026)
| Application Origin | Processing Time | Change vs. Feb 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Canada | 9 weeks | No change |
| India | 4 weeks | No change |
| Pakistan | 15 weeks | No change |
| Nigeria | 8 weeks | No change |
| United States | 5 weeks | −1 week ✓ |
| Philippines | 5 weeks | New data |
Service standard: 120 days for in-Canada applications; 60 days for outside Canada applications.
Visitor Visas (Temporary Resident Visa)
(Updated Weekly | Last updated:
March 11, 2026)
| Application Origin | Processing Time | Change vs. Feb 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Canada | 18 days | −1 day ✓ |
| India | 57 days | −14 days ✓✓ |
| Pakistan | 49 days | −4 days ✓ |
| Nigeria | 53 days | −3 days ✓ |
| United States | 17 days | −6 days ✓✓ |
| Philippines | 14 days | New data |
Note: Visitor visa processing has been on a positive downward trend across all countries in March 2026. Indian applicants saw the largest improvement, with a full two-week drop from the prior reporting period.
Super Visa (Parents & Grandparents Visiting)
(Updated Weekly | Last updated:
March 11, 2026)
| Application Origin | Processing Time | Change vs. Feb 26 |
|---|---|---|
| India | 208 days | −2 days ✓ |
| Pakistan | 132 days | −4 days ✓ |
| Nigeria | 44 days | −3 days ✓ |
| United States | 207 days | +2 days ⚠ |
| Philippines | 85 days | New data |
Service standard: 112 days. Note: Super visa applications cannot be submitted from inside Canada.
Electronic Travel Authorization
(eTA)
| Application Type | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| Standard eTA | ~5 minutes |
| eTA requiring additional screening | Up to 72 hours |
Citizenship Applications (Updated Monthly |
Last updated: March 9, 2026)
| Application Type | Processing Time | Change vs. February | Queue Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship Grant | 13 months | −1 month ✓ | ~320,300 |
| Citizenship Certificate | 10 months | −1 month ✓ | ~50,900 |
| Search of Citizenship Records | 17 months | +1 month ⚠ | — |
| Renunciation of Citizenship | 10 months | −8 months ✓✓ | — |
Note: After several months of growing wait times, citizenship grant and certificate processing improved by one month each in March 2026. However, demand continues to outpace completions — the citizenship grant queue grew by approximately 7,300 people this month alone. IRCC is currently issuing acknowledgment of receipt (AOR) for applications submitted around October 15, 2025.
Permanent Resident Cards (Updated
Weekly | Last updated:
March 3, 2026)
| Application Type | Processing Time | Change vs. Last Week | Change Since Jan 21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New PR Card | 61 days (~2 months) | No change | −1 day ✓ |
| PR Card Renewal | 28 days (~1 month) | −1 day ✓ | −3 days ✓ |
Note: PR card processing remains one of the strongest-performing areas of IRCC's operation. Renewal times have been consistently improving throughout early 2026.
These Are Estimates — Not Guarantees
IRCC processing times reflect how long it took to finalize 80% of complete applications of that type. Your individual timeline may differ based on the completeness of your application, background check requirements, your country of origin, and current IRCC workloads. Approximately 20% of applicants in any given category will experience times longer than published. The single most preventable cause of delay is submitting an incomplete or inconsistent application.
Why Does Processing Take Longer for
Some Applicants?
To qualify, applicants must meet express entry requirements under one of Canada’s federal immigration programs. Core eligibility factors include:
Application Completeness
Missing forms, unsigned declarations, or absent supporting documents trigger holds, procedural fairness letters, or outright returns. IRCC does not chase missing paperwork — it's the applicant's responsibility to submit everything correctly the first time.
Application Volume
The Express Entry backlog hit over one million applications in late 2025 — the highest level since 2022. While targeted draws are helping reduce this, rising queue numbers in March 2026 across the CEC and FSWP categories show the pressure is far from over.
Biometrics
Once IRCC requests biometrics, applicants have 30 days to comply at a designated Service Canada location or Application Support Centre. Missing this window pauses your application entirely
Background and Security Checks
Applicants from certain countries or with complex travel histories may undergo extended background screening. Medical inadmissibility reviews add additional processing time. These checks are mandatory and cannot be expedited.
Application Channel
Online submissions through IRCC's portal are handled faster than paper applications for most streams. Paper applications add physical handling time and are more vulnerable to errors that cause delays.
In-Canada Work Permit Surge
In-Canada work permit processing jumped from 210 days in late 2025 to 259 days by March 2026 — a 48-day increase in under three months. If your work permit is approaching expiry, filing immediately under maintained status provisions is critical.
How to Track Your Application With IRCC
- IRCC Secure Account (MyCIC) Applications submitted online can be tracked through your IRCC account. Status milestones include receipt confirmation, biometrics requests, decision-in-progress, and final outcome.
- IRCC Web Form Inquiry If your published processing time has elapsed with no update, you may submit a web form inquiry to IRCC. This is the official channel and does not accelerate processing — but it creates a record of your inquiry.
- MP Inquiry For urgent or humanitarian circumstances, your local Member of Parliament can submit a formal inquiry to IRCC on your behalf. This should be reserved for exceptional cases.
- eHouse Active File Monitoring When represented by eHouse, our consultants monitor your file, respond to IRCC requests promptly, and flag anything unusual before it becomes a problem.
Recent IRCC Announcements That May Affect Your Application
CEC Queue Explodes — Largest Single-Month Jump of 2026 Summary:
The Canadian Experience Class queue grew by approximately 10,100 applicants in March 2026 — the largest increase in any economic immigration category this year. Processing remains at 7 months, but growing intake without matching output signals tightening timelines ahead. Candidates with an ITA should submit their complete PR application within 60 days without delay.
In-Canada Work Permit Processing Exceeds 8.5 Months Summary:
In-Canada work permit extensions have climbed to 259 days (approximately 8.5 months) as of March 11, 2026 — up 48 days since the start of the year. Workers on employer-specific permits approaching expiry should consult an RCIC immediately to explore maintained status or bridging options.
Visitor Visa Times Drop for Indian and US Applicants Summary:
Visitor visa processing improved meaningfully for applicants from India (down 14 days to 57 days) and the United States (down 6 days to 17 days) in the March 11 update. This continues a positive trend for temporary entry applications globally.
Citizenship Grant Times Improve — But Queue Keeps Growing Summary:
Citizenship grant processing shortened to 13 months in March 2026, down from 14 months in February. Despite this welcome improvement, roughly 7,300 new applicants joined the queue in March alone, bringing the total to approximately 320,300 people awaiting a decision.
Start-Up Visa Program Commitments Paused Summary:
As of late 2025, IRCC has paused new Start-Up Visa (SUV) commitments for 2026. Entrepreneurs who were planning to use this pathway should consult with an RCIC to explore alternative routes. eHouse can assess your eligibility for other business immigration options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Temporary residence applications — including visitor visas, work permits, study permits, and PR cards — are updated weekly. Permanent residence and citizenship categories are updated monthly. eHouse tracks every release.
Log in to your IRCC account and check the current published timeline — it may have changed since you applied. If the standard time has genuinely elapsed, submit a web form inquiry through IRCC's official portal. eHouse clients should contact their consultant directly.
Yes. Online applications are processed faster than paper submissions for most immigration streams and allow real-time tracking through the IRCC portal.
Canada does not have a general paid expedite system. Some applications, such as urgent visitor visa or eTA requests under specific circumstances, may qualify for urgent processing. Citizenship applications can also request expedited processing under defined humanitarian criteria.
In-Canada work permit processing has climbed to 259 days as of March 2026 — well above the 120-day service standard. This reflects elevated application volumes following increased international student and temporary worker intakes in 2023–2024. If your permit is nearing expiry, apply immediately to maintain legal status.
A consultant cannot override IRCC's processing queues. However, a complete, accurate, and well-organized application avoids the delays caused by missing documents, inconsistencies, and requests for additional information — which is where the majority of avoidable waiting time comes from.
A procedural fairness letter (PFL) is issued when IRCC has concerns about admissibility, misrepresentation, or conflicting information in your file. Receiving one significantly extends your processing time. Responding promptly and accurately with RCIC support is essential.
Real Clients. Real Timelines.
Know Your Timeline. Plan Your Future.
Processing times are just one piece of your immigration journey. Let eHouse give you the full picture — an accurate timeline based on your specific situation, a complete document checklist, and a regulated RCIC in your corner from application to approval.