Foreign nationals often want to know how long it will take to immigrate to Canada because the application and processing times for each type of visa vary!
In Canadian immigration law, the time it takes for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officials to process your application, from the day they receive it until they reach a decision, is referred to as the processing time.
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The processing timelines do not include the time it may take to prepare paperwork, submit an application, mail completed visas, permits, status cards, and other papers, or submit an expression of interest and get an invitation to apply.
This guide will provide a detailed look at the Canada visa processing times of several types of Canadian visas and, more so, give a better idea of what can affect your Canada visa processing time.
What Can Affect Canada Visa Processing Times?
- Verification Process: The time it takes to verify the information you provide can vary.
- Response Time to Requests: How quickly you respond to requests for additional information or address concerns also plays a crucial role.
- Type of application: Processing times for different types of visas and permits also differ. The type of application and the number of candidates currently being processed in that category can affect the processing time. If a program receives more applications than expected, processing may take longer.
- Completeness: If an application is incomplete, IRCC may either refuse the applicant altogether or they may request more information, which can cause significant delays in processing.
Processing Times of Several Canadian Visa
1. Express Entry
Six months or less
The Express Entry Program includes the following streams: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FST), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and some Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP).
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Most Express Entry applications are processed within six months of receipt. However, in rare cases, this can take longer.
Before the six-month processing time begins, the applicant must provide all the necessary documents and upload them to their individual Express Entry profile.
2. Canada Permanent Resident Card
34 days
Applying for a PR Card can typically take around 34 days after receiving the ITA (Invitation to Apply) for the visa to be processed.
3. Canada PR Card Renewal
Two months
PR renewal processing time might take several weeks or even months. If you plan to travel outside Canada, consider renewing your PR before it expires.
4. Canada Work Permit
5-36 weeks
The Canadian work permit processing time has the most extensive range. It entirely depends on the completion of your application and the office you applied to.
A Canadian work permit can be processed in 5 to 36 weeks, depending on your circumstances. The Work Permit (while inside Canada) takes five weeks, and the work Permit (outside Canada) takes 5 to 6 months.
5. LMIA
8-76 days
The processing time for Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications varies according to the amount of applications submitted by the TFWP.
- Global Talent Stream: 8 business days
- Agricultural stream: 15 business days
- Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program: 10 business days
- Permanent residence Stream: 76 business days
- In-home caregivers: 25 business days
- High-wage Stream: 48 business days
- Low-wage Stream: 49 business days
6. Canada Student Visa
8 – 17 weeks
Like work permits, Canadian study permit processing times depend primarily on the applicant’s country of residence. Generally, a Canadian study permit will be processed on specific circumstances:
Study Permit: While inside Canada – 8 weeks, outside of Canada – 17 weeks, and Study Permit Extension – 76 days.
7. Canadian Citizenship
8 – 24 months
The processing time for a Canadian Citizenship grant in 2024 is 15 months, and receiving your citizenship certificate can take about eight months.
It could take around two years to process from the day you submit your completed application fully.
8. Canadian Visitor Visa
15 days – 8 months
Depending on the Canada visitor visa you are applying for, it may take up to 30 days to process after biometrics. Similar to work visas and study permits, the processing time for a visitor visa can depend on which country the applicant is applying from.
The processing time will be determined by circumstances such as:
- Visitor Visa (while inside Canada) – 15 days
- Visitor Visa (outside of Canada) – 2 to 8 months
- Visitor Visa extension – 74 days
9. Canada Spousal Sponsorship
13-17 months
The average processing time for a spousal sponsorship is approximately 13-17 months when your spouse lives in Canada. However, it may take longer, depending on specific circumstances, such as if your spouse is outside of Canada.
10. Super Visa
4-6 months
Most applications for a super visa are processed within six months, sometimes less. Processing times will vary depending on the visa office and the country you are applying from.
11. Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)
2-6 months
When applying for a Canadian post-graduate work permit after your studies, you can expect to wait 5 to 6 months when applying online or two months when applying via paper.
While waiting, you can work if you apply for your PGWP before your student permit expires expires.
Final Thoughts
As we’ve seen in this article, several critical criteria, such as the type of visa and the country of origin, can affect the time it takes to obtain a Canada visa.
Prospective immigrants and visitors must comprehend the duration required to process any Canada visa.
You can now prepare your application more effectively, control your expectations, and raise your chances of having a successful journey or relocating to Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for the Canadian visa to be approved?
This all depends on the visa type you are applying for and if there are any current backlogs associated with that specific visa. See above for each visa type and processing time.
How often are processing times updated?
Most processing times show how long it took to process applications in the past and are updated weekly.
These permanent resident programs have estimated processing times for new applications and are updated monthly:
- Sponsoring a parent or grandparent
- Economic immigration
- Provincial Nominees (excluding Express Entry)
- Skilled Workers (Quebec)
- Start-up visa
- Humanitarian and compassionate cases
The following programs show a commitment and are updated when new commitments are set:
- Electronic travel authorization (eTA)
- International Experience Canada (IEC)
- Atlantic Immigration Pilot
- Express Entry
- Federal Skilled Trades
- Federal Skilled Workers
- Provincial Nominees
- Canadian Experience Class
- Caregivers
- Sponsoring a spouse or a common-law or conjugal partner
How to confirm a Canada visa approval?
Once a Canada visa is approved, the applicant will receive an email notification at the email address provided during the application process. If required, a visa and letter of introduction will be attached.
Why do Canada spousal visa applications get delayed?
Spousal visa processing in Canada can be delayed due to incomplete applications, additional documents, or complex cases requiring further investigation, such as custody issues or previous immigration violations.
What is the processing time for a Canadian passport?
The processing time for a passport application is determined by where and how the application is submitted, as well as the urgency of the request. The following are the processing times for passport applications submitted in Canada:
- Ten business days (for applications submitted in person at a passport office)
- 20 business days (for applications submitted in person at a Service Canada service point)
- 20 business days (for applications submitted by mail)
A passport office may process an application for expedited or urgent service by the end of the next working day, or it may take up to nine business days.
You can apply in person at the closest Service Canada location or passport office in Canada or by mail if you currently reside there. Postal applications from the United States take 20 working days to process.
The processing time for all passport applications filed outside the US and Canada is up to 20 business days. Applications outside Canada should be sent to the closest Canadian embassy or consulate overseas.
How long does it take to obtain a visa after Canada biometrics?
After you submit your biometrics to the IRCC with your visa application, it should take around eight weeks to receive your valid visa. However, each case can vary, so always discuss it with your immigration lawyer or consultant.
What is the fastest work visa in Canada?
The fastest work visa category is an intra-company transfer or Global Talent Stream, where processing times can be as short as two weeks under ideal circumstances.
Do all family sponsorship applications have the exact processing times?
No, the processing time for Family Sponsorship applications is determined by the sponsored family member (spouse or common-law partner, dependent child, parents or grandparents, adopted child, or others) and their country of residency.
Why do certain application processing times fluctuate while others do not?
Processing times depend on the number of applications submitted for each program. If the number of applications for a particular program stays the same, its processing times will remain.
On the other hand, some get varying numbers of applications throughout the year; in these cases, processing times will also vary to account for these variations.