Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published its latest processing time estimates as of May 6th, 2025.
The update provides applicants with current timelines for various immigration services, including citizenship, permanent residency (PR), temporary visas, and Canadian passports.
According to Immigration News Canada (INC), the processing times reflect how long it takes IRCC to finalise 80% of applications. The department updates these figures weekly for temporary visas and PR cards, and monthly for other categories.
These projections help applicants understand what to expect and plan their immigration steps accordingly.
Citizenship Processing Delays and Updates
As of May 1st, 2025, the processing time for a
- Canadian citizenship grant has risen to 10 months, up from 8 months
- Citizenship certificates now take 4 months, an increase from 3 months
- Applications for renunciation of citizenship have decreased to 7 months, from the previous 8
- The processing time for a search of citizenship records remains at 15 months, and there is currently no estimate available for the resumption of citizenship
IRCC indicated that applicants who submitted citizenship applications around March 24th, 2025, should expect an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) notice shortly. Delays may continue for those requesting citizenship certificates from outside Canada or the U.S.
Permanent Residency and Family Sponsorship Timelines
Processing times for new PR cards have increased to 35 days from 19 days. Renewal of PR cards remains at 10 days. For family sponsorship applications, timelines vary by location and relationship:
- Sponsorship of spouses or common-law partners from outside Canada (excluding Quebec) now takes 10 months, a decrease from 11 months
- The same sponsorship in Quebec has increased to 36 months
- Inside Canada, applications take 29 months for non-Quebec residents, and 36 months in Quebec
- Sponsorship of parents or grandparents remains unchanged at 36 months for non-Quebec and 48 months for Quebec
These differences reflect the provincial requirements specific to Quebec, which has a distinct immigration agreement with the federal government.
Passport and Economic Immigration Processing
Passport processing times remain unchanged. A new passport application submitted in person takes 10 business days, while those sent by mail take 20 business days. Urgent pick-up services deliver passports by the end of the next business day, and express pick-up takes between 2 to 9 business days.
Economic immigration programs have seen minor shifts. Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) via Express Entry all show a five-month processing time. The non-Express Entry PNP timeline has been reduced slightly to 20 months. Other updates include:
- Federal Self-Employed: 53 months (up from 50 months)
- Start-Up Visa: 41 months (up from 40 months)
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): 11 months (no change)
- Quebec Skilled Workers: 9 months (no change)
Temporary Visa Timelines Across Countries
Visitor visa processing from outside Canada varies by country. Current wait times include:
- India: 19 days
- United States: 18 days
- Nigeria: 89 days
- Pakistan: 25 days
- Philippines: 27 days
Inside Canada, visitor visa processing takes 20 days. Visitor visa extensions have increased to 163 days. Super visa processing times also vary, ranging from 68 days (Nigeria) to 172 days (Pakistan).
For study permits outside Canada, the wait time ranges from 5 to 11 weeks depending on country of origin. Inside Canada, study permits are processed in 4 weeks, while extensions now take 223 days. Work permit processing ranges from 7 to 18 weeks outside Canada and takes 233 days inside.
Other notable processing times:
- Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP): 11 days
- International Experience Canada (IEC): 5 weeks
- Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA): 5 minutes to 72 hours
These timelines are subject to change based on IRCC’s capacity and application volumes. They serve as guidance only, not as guaranteed deadlines. Applicants are encouraged to ensure their submissions are complete to avoid delays.
