How long does it take for Canada to process visa applications from India?
Canada has maintained processing of visa applications from India, including temporary resident visas for students and workers; and permanent resident and family-class sponsorship applications.
Below are the average wait times for Indian applicants across five different permit/visa processing streams as of September 26, 2023. Note that these processing times are subject to change and can vary depending on the specific conditions of one’s application. Please check the website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to get the latest info.
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Work permits and visas
Work permits allow foreign individuals to work and reside in Canada for the term of their work permit.
Note the difference between a visa and a permit for immigration purposes—a permit allows someone to legally reside and work and/or study in Canada. A visa grants foreign citizens entry into Canada through its borders. Usually permits take up the bulk of processing times. After a permit is issued to a foreign national, they must subsequently submit their passport at an IRCC office for visa stamping if they wish to travel outside of Canada and subsequently return.
Work permit processing can vary based on whether one is applying within Canada, or from outside the country. The processing times are:
| Immigration Stream | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| Work permit (applying from India) | 9 weeks |
| Work permit (applying inside of Canada (initial and extension)) | 128 days online; 47 days on paper |
Study permits and visas
Study permits allow foreign nationals to study and reside in Canada. Some study permits also allow provisions for students to work either full-time or part-time during their studies.
The same distinction between work permits and visas applies to study permits—once an applicant has their study permit approved, they must subsequently give their passport for visa stamping if they wish to travel outside of Canada and subsequently return.
Study permit processing varies based on whether one applies for their study permit inside or outside of Canada. In addition, processing times can vary based on whether the application is for an initial study permit, or an extension. Finally study permit processing times can be expedited when applying through the Student Direct Stream—a specialised study permit stream that Indian students are eligible for.
Below are current processing times for study permits:
| Immigration Stream | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| Study permit (applying from India) | 8 weeks |
| Study permit (applying inside of Canada) | 5 weeks |
| Study permit extension | 75 days online; 91 days on paper |
| Student Direct Stream | 20 days (assuming all criteria are met) |
Visitor visas
Indian citizens who wish to visit Canada will need a visitor visa. These visas do not have associated permits, as visitor visas do not allow holders to work or study in Canada (though visitors are free to pursue study and/or work permits if they wish). In addition, visitors can apply for an extension of their visitor visa, known as a visitor record. This is not a visa but rather a document that allows visitors to stay in Canada longer.
Visitor visa processing is impacted by whether one applies inside or outside of Canada.
Below are current processing times for visitor visas:
| Immigration Stream | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| Visitor visa (applying from India) | 31 days |
| Visitor visa (from inside of Canada) | 16 days online; 47 days on paper |
| Visitor extension (visitor record) | 55 days online; 102 days on paper |
Economic class immigration
Economic class immigration spans a number of immigration programs. These include the Express Entry managed programs—the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC)—as well as the immigration pathways within the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which can vary from province to province.
This line of business also includes the Atlantic Immigration Program, the Self-Employed persons Program (federal), Start-up Visa, Quebec immigration streams (including the Quebec Business Class, and the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program), and pathways for caregivers.
Candidates who are approved for these programs are granted Canadian permanent residence (PR) upon arrival.
Below are current processing times for economic immigration applications:
| Immigration Stream | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| Atlantic Immigration Program | 6 months |
| Canadian Experience Class | 5 months |
| Home Child Care Provider Pilot | Depends on time of application and work experience. |
| Home Support Worker Pilot | Depends on time of application and work experience. |
| Provincial Nominees | 8 months if applied online through Express Entry; 16 months if not. |
| Self-Employed persons Program (federal) | 52 months |
| Quebec Business Class | 61 months |
| Federal Skilled Worker | 6 months |
| Federal Skilled Trades | Not enough data |
| Quebec Skilled Worker | 15 months |
| Start-up Visa | 37 months |
Family sponsorship immigration
Canadian permanent residents and citizens of Indian origin who wish to sponsor Indian spouses, dependent children, or other family members to come to Canada can do so. The main pathways to accomplish this are Spousal sponsorships, Dependent child sponsorships or for other family members, the Super-Visa and Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).
Processing times for spousal sponsorships are dependent on whether the spouse being sponsored is currently in Canada or not; and if the couple will be residing in or outside of Quebec (as due to legal provisions both the federal government and the provincial government must process immigration applications to Quebec ).
Below are current processing times for family class sponsorship applications:
| Immigration Stream | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| Spouse or common-law partner living in Canada | 10 months outside of Quebec; 25 months in Quebec |
| Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner living in Canada | 13 months outside of Quebec; 24 months in Quebec |
| Super Visa (Parents or Grandparents living in India) | 53 days |
| Dependent Child (living in India) | 10 months |
| Parents and Grandparents Program | 21 months outside of Quebec; 46 months in Quebec |
| Adopted child or other relative (living in India) | 22 months |
For more up to date information on processing times, applicants can use IRCC’s processing times tool here.
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