Canada’s latest processing-time update shows longer waits for several permanent residence and citizenship applications, while a few family sponsorship categories have improved.
The most notable change is under Express Entry. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) processing has increased from 6 to 7 months, while the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) remains unchanged at 6 months.
Other key changes include:
- Spousal sponsorship outside Canada, excluding Quebec: 17 → 18 months
- Spousal sponsorship inside Canada, excluding Quebec: 27 → 26 months
- Parents and Grandparents Program, outside Quebec: 29 → 28 months
- Parents and Grandparents Program in Quebec: 64 → 63 months
- Search of citizenship records: 17 → 18 months
- Citizenship grant: unchanged at 12 months
Provincial Nominee Program processing also remained stable at 7 months for enhanced PNP applications and 13 months for base PNP applications.
Some programs continue to face significantly longer timelines. The Atlantic Immigration Program remains at 26 months, while both the Start-Up Visa and Federal Self-Employed Persons Program continue to show estimated waits of more than 10 years.
These figures are estimates rather than guarantees. Actual processing can vary depending on application complexity, completeness, additional document requests and the number of applications in IRCC’s inventory.
