Processing times drop for temporary residence applications, latest IRCC data shows
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released updated processing times for temporary residence applications on April 29, 2026—and some show significant improvements.
Applicants from Pakistan and Nigeria saw the most notable improvements to wait time over the span of two weeks.
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Here are the biggest changes to wait time seen in this latest processing times update:
- Work permits: Eight-week improvement for Pakistan-based submissions, six-week reduction for Nigeria-based applications.
- Study permits: Three-week dip for applications from Pakistan, two-week decline for applications from Nigeria.
Processing times for visitor visas, on the other hand, have increased modestly for all countries featured.
This article will compare how processing times for various temporary residence applications have changed over the span of two weeks (April 15: April 29).
Work permits
Notable improvements can be seen across the board for most countries, with Pakistan seeing the biggest dip in wait time (eight weeks) followed by Nigeria (six weeks).
| Applying from: | Current processing time | Processing time as of April 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 217 days | 240 days |
| India | 9 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Pakistan | 8 weeks | 16 weeks |
| Nigeria | 7 weeks | 13 weeks |
| United States | 6 weeks | 7 weeks |
| Philippines | 7 weeks | 7 weeks |
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Service standard:
- In-Canada submissions (initial and extensions): 120 days
- Outside Canada submissions: 60 days
- International Experience Canada permit submissions: 56 days
Study permits
Wait times improved or remained the same for all countries except India and the US; Pakistan-based study permit applicants have seen the greatest decline in processing time—a three-week acceleration.
| Applying from: | Current processing time | Processing time as of April 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 8 weeks | 8 weeks |
| India | 4 weeks | 3 weeks |
| Pakistan | 9 weeks | 12 weeks |
| Nigeria | 5 weeks | 7 weeks |
| United States | 6 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Philippines | 4 weeks | 5 weeks |
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Service standard:
- In-Canada submissions (initial and extensions): 120 days
- Outside Canada submissions: 60 days
Visitor visas
Processing times for visitor visas have increased modestly across the board, ranging from one- to five-day hikes—this time, Pakistan seeing the biggest jump rather than decrease.
| Applying from: | Current processing time | Processing time as of April 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 11 days | 10 days |
| India | 27 days | 23 days |
| Pakistan | 48 days | 43 days |
| Nigeria | 45 days | 42 days |
| United States | 22 days | 18 days |
| Philippines | 17 days | 15 days |
Service standard:
- In-Canada submissions: N/A
- Outside Canada submissions: 14 days
Super visas
Super visa applicants from all countries examined show a decrease in wait time; US-based submissions saw the greatest improvement (seven weeks), while Nigeria-based applications improved by just two days.
| Applying from: | Current processing time | Processing time as of April 15 |
|---|---|---|
| India | 168 days | 182 days |
| Pakistan | 102 days | 107 days |
| Nigeria | 37 days | 39 days |
| United States | 115 days | 164 days |
| Philippines | 34 days | 37 days |
Service standard: 112 days
Note that super visa applications can only be submitted from outside Canada.
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Understanding how processing times and service standards differ
Processing times and service standards are separate but interconnected concepts.
IRCC’s processing times give applicants a general idea of how long a decision may take to be rendered, beginning from the date of submission.
The clock begins immediately for online applications (based on timestamp of submission), whereas for paper applications it begins once the application reaches IRCC’s mailroom.
These estimates come in two forms:
- Historical: Based on past outcomes, specifically the time needed to finalize most applications (80%) of a particular type.
- Forward-looking: Derived from the department’s current inventory and anticipated processing output.
Service standards, by contrast, represent internal benchmarks for how long it should take to process various application types.
They are designed as targets for operational performance, with the expectation that most applications (80%) will be processed within that timeframe. The remaining 20% account for more complex cases that may require additional time to process.
While processing times are updated on a weekly or monthly basis (depending on application type), IRCC does not regularly update its service standards—with the most recent updates made in 2018 and 2019 for temporary residence applications.
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