Canada’s immigration system continues to evolve, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officially released its latest processing time update on November 26, 2025.
Processing times represent how long people must wait to reunite with family members, begin new studies, start work under skilled programs, or finally receive permanent residency or citizenship.
These updates are crucial for applicants planning their next move—whether it’s a visa, permanent residency, work permit, study permit, or citizenship.
We have been tracking changes in these timelines for the last four years, and this has helped applicants make informed decisions about their immigration pathway.
Recently, IRCC revamped its processing tool to reflect real-world timelines for 80 percent of applications, rather than fixed targets that no longer matched reality.
Today, permanent residency and citizenship timelines are updated monthly, while temporary visa, PR card, and permit processing times are refreshed weekly.
It’s essential to remember that IRCC’s estimates are not guarantees.
Processing speed can vary widely depending on the country of application, background checks, case complexity, and IRCC’s operational load.
This comprehensive guide outlines the newest IRCC processing times across all major categories, compares them with previous updates, and explains why these timelines are more important than ever in 2025.
Table of Contents
| Application Type | Number of People Waiting | Processing Time as of November 6, 2025 | Change Since October Update |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship Grant | ~290,700 ⬆ +7,000 |
13 months | No change |
| Citizenship Certificate* | ~39,000 ⬆ +3,600 |
9 months | ⬆ +1 month |
| Resumption of Citizenship | Not available | Not enough data | No change |
| Renunciation of Citizenship | Not available | 22 months | ⬆ +12 months |
| Search of Citizenship Records | Not available | 13 months | No change |
*Delays for citizenship certificates are longer when requested from outside Canada or the United States.
IRCC is currently issuing acknowledgment of receipt letters for citizenship applications submitted around July 28, 2025.
| Application Type | Processing Time (November 26, 2025) |
Change Since October 29 |
|---|---|---|
| New PR Card | 59 days | ⬇ -2 days |
| PR Card Renewal | 32 days | ⬆ +2 days |
Applicants applying for renewals are seeing modest improvements, while new cards are experiencing slightly longer waits.
| Sponsorship Category | People Waiting | Processing Time as of November 6, 2025 | Change Since October Update |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse/Common-Law (Outside Canada, non-Quebec) | ~45,200 ⬇ -700 |
14 months | ⬇ -1 month |
| Spouse/Common-Law (Outside Canada, Quebec) | ~20,100 ⬇ -200 |
37 months | ⬇ -2 months |
| Spouse/Common-Law (Inside Canada, non-Quebec) | ~49,900 ⬆ +400 |
20 months | ⬇ -2 months |
| Spouse/Common-Law (Inside Canada, Quebec) | ~12,200 ⬆ +100 |
37 months | ⬇ -2 months |
| Parents/Grandparents (non-Quebec) | ~47,100 ⬆ +5,600 |
42 months | ⬆ +16 months |
| Parents/Grandparents (Quebec) | ~12,900 ⬆ +1,100 |
50 months | ⬆ +6 months |
Family sponsorships continue to be among the longest categories to process, particularly in Quebec, where provincial approval adds another layer of delay.
| Category | People Waiting | Processing Time as of November 6, 2025 | Change Since October Update |
|---|---|---|---|
| H&C Outside Quebec | ~49,300 ⬇ -100 |
More than 10 years | No change |
| H&C In Quebec | ~17,000 ⬆ +300 |
More than 10 years | No change |
| Protected Persons (Outside Quebec) | ~141,300 ⬆ +4,200 |
About 100 months | ⬆ +1 month |
| Protected Persons (In Quebec) | ~54,900 ⬆ +1,200 |
About 106 months | ⬆ +2 months |
| Dependents of Protected Persons | Not available | 50 months | No change |
These humanitarian pathways remain among the slowest, with backlogs stretching across several years.
| Application Type | Current Processing Time | Change |
|---|---|---|
| New Passport (In-person, Canada) | 10 business days | No change |
| New Passport (Mail, Canada) | 20 business days | No change |
| Urgent Pick-Up | Next business day | No change |
| Express Pick-Up | 2–9 business days | No change |
| Passport Mailed from Outside Canada | 20 business days | No change |
Processing for passports remains stable and predictable, with most requests handled within two to three weeks.
| Program | People Waiting | Processing Times as of November 6, 2025 | Change Since October Update |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | ~19,800 ⬆ +1,900 |
7 months | ⬆ +1 month |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | ~24,500 ⬆ +700 |
6 months | No change |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) | Not available | Not enough data | No change |
| PNP (Express Entry) | ~10,700 ⬇ -800 |
6 months | ⬇ -1 month |
| Non-Express Entry PNP | ~96,000 ⬆ +1,300 |
16 months | No change |
| Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) | ~26,400 ⬆ +1,600 |
11 months | No change |
| Quebec Business Class | ~4,100 | 84 months | No change |
| Federal Self-Employed | ~8,500 ⬇ -100 |
More than 10 years | No change |
| Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) | ~13,300 ⬆ +200 |
37 months | No change |
| Start-Up Visa | ~43,800 ⬆ +600 |
More than 10 years | No change |
The latest data shows mixed trends. While Express Entry programs remain steady, business immigration and Atlantic programs have experienced massive jumps in processing time.
Visitor Visas From Outside Canada
| Country | Processing Time (November 26, 2025) |
Change Since October 29 |
|---|---|---|
| India | 109 days | ⬆ +23 days |
| United States | 32 days | ⬇ -8 days |
| Nigeria | 25 days | ⬇ -5 days |
| Pakistan | 88 days | ⬆ +32 days |
| Philippines | 21 days | ⬇ -3 days |
- Visitor Visa (Inside Canada): 18 days (⬇ -1 day Since October 29)
- Visitor Extension (Record): 203 days (⬆ +21 days Since October 29)
Super Visa Processing Times
| Country | Processing Time (November 26, 2025) |
Change Since October 29 |
|---|---|---|
| India | 173 days | ⬆ +5 days |
| United States | 58 days | ⬇ -18 days |
| Nigeria | 48 days | ⬇ -3 days |
| Pakistan | 198 days | ⬇ -5 days |
| Philippines | 122 days | ⬆ +45 days |
Study Permit Processing Times
| Country | Processing Time (November 26, 2025) |
Change Since October 29 |
|---|---|---|
| India | 4 weeks | ⬇ -1 week |
| United States | 4 weeks | ⬇ -1 week |
| Nigeria | 6 weeks | ⬇ -2 weeks |
| Pakistan | 7 weeks | ⬇ -3 weeks |
| Philippines | 4 weeks | ⬇ -1 week |
- Study Permit (Inside Canada): 9 weeks (⬇ -2 weeks Since October 29)
- Study Permit Extension: 151 days (⬆ -17 days Since October 29)
Work Permit Processing Times
| Country | Processing Time (November 26, 2025) |
Change Since October 29 |
|---|---|---|
| India | 10 weeks | No change |
| United States | 7 weeks | ⬆ +3 weeks |
| Nigeria | 9 weeks | ⬇ -1 week |
| Pakistan | 8 weeks | No change |
| Philippines | 6 weeks | No change |
- Work Permits From Inside Canada (Initial and Extension): 229 days (⬆ +3 days Since October 29)
- Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program: 12 days (⬇ -47 days Since October 29)
- International Experience Canada (IEC): 5 weeks (⬇ -1 week Since October 29)
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): 5 minutes for most applicants, but some may take up to 72 hours due to extra screening.
The IRCC update from November 2025 presents a varied picture.
While some Express Entry programs like the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Provincial Nominee Program show improvement, others such as Citizenship, CEC, and Super Visa timelines have lengthened significantly.
Processing capacity, regional backlogs, and rising immigration volumes continue to influence wait times across categories.
Quebec applications remain slower due to provincial and federal coordination.
Applicants should regularly check for new updates, plan timelines realistically, and prepare complete applications to avoid unnecessary delays.
Canada continues to process immigration applications at record volumes, but the growing demand has made tracking processing times more important than ever.
Applicants are advised to monitor updates closely, prepare accurate documents, and build flexibility into their plans. The latest data shows that while some categories are stabilizing, others face growing delays.
Keeping informed can help applicants save time, manage expectations, and plan their future in Canada effectively.
How often does IRCC update processing times?
Permanent residency and citizenship are updated monthly, while temporary resident categories such as PR cards, work permits, and visitor visas are updated weekly.
Are IRCC processing times guaranteed?
No, these are estimates only. Timelines can vary based on your application type, background checks, and workload at the processing office.
Why do Quebec sponsorship applications take longer?
Quebec requires an additional provincial approval process, making these applications more complex and time-consuming.
What are the current citizenship processing times?
As of November 6, 2025, citizenship grant applications take about 13 months, while citizenship certificates take 8 months.
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