Canada Updates Temporary Residence Processing Timelines
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its temporary residence processing estimates, with changes seen in various categories.
Canada has updated its temporary residence processing estimates, with changes seen in various categories. The updated estimates were published on August 19, with increases in almost every category.
The notable changes were for U.S. super visa applications and visitor visa applications from Pakistan, both of which saw processing times lengthen by at least two weeks. In contrast, several categories saw more favorable processing times, led by a five-week reduction for Pakistan-based work permit applications.
## Work Permits
The updated estimates show changes in work permit processing times for Canada and Pakistan. Pakistan recorded a particularly notable five-week reduction in work permit processing times.
| Category | Service Standard (In-Canada) | Service Standard (Outside Canada) | | --- | --- | --- | | Work permits | 120 days | 60 days |
## Study Permits
The latest study permit update brought a one-week increase in Nigeria's wait time, with no movement recorded elsewhere.
| Category | Service Standard (In-Canada) | Service Standard (Outside Canada) | | --- | --- | --- | | Study permits | 120 days | 60 days |
## Visitor Visas
Canada saw a slight reduction in its visitor visa wait time, while nearly all other countries recorded increases, with Pakistan posting the largest at two weeks.
| Category | Service Standard (Outside Canada) | | --- | --- | | Visitor visas | 14 days |
## Super Visas
Super visa wait times rose across most countries, led by an increase of just over two weeks in the U.S., while Pakistan recorded a slight reduction.
| Category | Service Standard | | --- | --- | | Super visas | 112 days |
IRCC's processing times and service standards are two distinct measures. Processing times are intended to give applicants a general sense of how long IRCC may take to finalize a newly submitted temporary residence, permanent residence, or citizenship application. They are estimates only and should not be interpreted as a deadline, guarantee, or maximum waiting period.
Service standards, by comparison, are performance targets rather than estimates. They set out the timeframe within which IRCC aims to finalize a particular type of application under normal operating conditions, generally in 80% of cases.
Temporary residence processing estimates are updated weekly, while permanent residence and citizenship estimates are typically refreshed monthly. Service standards are revised much less often.
