Wait times plateau for permanent residence and citizenship applicants

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) Oct. 9 processing times update shows that timelines for permanent residence (PR) and citizenship applications have held steady over the past month.

Applicants in Canada awaiting decisions on their PR applications may be eligible to apply for Bridging Open Work Permits (BOWPs).

Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation

A BOWP applicant who remains in Canada can benefit from maintained status, which authorizes them to work under the conditions of their existing work permit until a decision is made on their application for the BOWP.

PR: economic immigration

Express Entry

Application type	Current (Oct. 9)	Previous (Sept. 3)
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)	6 months	6 months
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)	7 months	7 months
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)	N/A*	N/A*

*IRCC does not publish processing times for FSTP applications, citing “not enough data.”

IRCC service standard: Six months across all Express Entry programs.

Applications in inventory awaiting assessment:

CEC: 53,900 (-5,000).
FSWP: 58,300 (+4,500).

Provincial Nominee Program

Application type	Current (Oct. 9)	Previous (Sept. 3)
Through Express Entry (enhanced)	7 months	7 months
Non-Express Entry (base)	13 months	13 months

Service standard: Six months for enhanced PNP applications; 11 months for base PNP applications.

Applications in inventory awaiting assessment:

Enhanced applications: 13,100 (+300).
Base applications: 96,500 (-5,000).

Under a temporary measure in effect since June 9, 2026, many base PNP applicants no longer need to wait for an AOR for their PR application before applying for a BOWP.

Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation

Quebec immigration

Application type	Current (Oct. 9)	Previous (Sept. 3)
Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ)	11 months	11 months
Quebec Business Class (QBC)	75 months	75 months

Service standard: Six months for PSTQ applicants, unpublished for QBC applications.

Applications in inventory awaiting assessment:

PSTQ: 20,500 (+100).
QBC: 3,600 (-100).

Atlantic Immigration Program

Current (October 9)	Previous (Sept. 3)
26 months	26 months

Service standard: 11 months for AIP submissions.

Applications in inventory awaiting assessment: 11,500 (-300).

Other economic programs

Application type	Current (Oct. 9)	Previous (Sept. 3)
Start-Up Visa (SUV)	10+ years	10+ years
Federal Self-Employed Persons Program (FSEPP)	10+ years	10+ years

Service standards are not available for the above programs.

Applications in inventory awaiting assessment:

SUV: 47,500 (unchanged).
FSEPP: 8,000 (unchanged).

PR: family sponsorship

Outside Quebec

Application type	Current (Oct. 9)	Previous (Sept. 3)
Spouse or common-law partner living inside Canada	26 months	26 months
Spouse or common-law partner living outside Canada	18 months	18 months
Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)	28 months	28 months

Service standard: 12 months for sponsorship of a spouse/common-law partner outside Quebec; IRCC does not publish standards for other application types.

Applications in inventory awaiting assessment:

Partner living in Canada: 55,600 (+900).
Partner living outside Canada: 65,600 (+6,000).
Parents and Grandparents: 35,600 (-1,900).

Within Quebec

Application type	Current (Oct. 9)	Previous (Sept. 3)
Spouse or common-law partner living inside Canada	32 months	32 months
Spouse or common-law partner living outside Canada	33 months	33 months
Parents and Grandparents Program	63 months	63 months