Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released its newest application processing timelines as of October 1, 2025. These figures impact thousands of applicants worldwide—covering permanent residency, work permits, study permits, visas, citizenship, and passports.
Processing times are now based on 80% of cases completed, making them more realistic but still approximate. Individual cases can vary depending on background checks, country of application, or IRCC’s workload.
Why Processing Times Matter
Help families plan reunification in Canada.
Allow students to prepare for university start dates.
Give clarity to skilled workers and employers.
Provide insight for those seeking PR or citizenship.
Citizenship Applications (Monthly Updates)
Application Type
Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025)
Change Since Last Update
Citizenship Grant
13 months
⬆ Increased by 2 months
Citizenship Certificate
7 months
⬆ Increased by 2 months
Resumption of Citizenship
Not enough data
No change
Renunciation of Citizenship
10 months
No change
Search of Citizenship Records
13 months
No change
Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) letters currently being issued for applications filed around July 21, 2025.
Permanent Resident (PR) Cards (Weekly Updates)
Application Type
Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025)
Change
New PR Card
56 days
⬆ +10 days
PR Card Renewal
32 days
⬇ -1 day
Family Sponsorship Applications
Category
Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025)
Change
Spouse/Common-Law (Outside Canada – non-Quebec)
15 months
No change
Spouse/Common-Law (Outside Canada – Quebec)
41 months
No change
Spouse/Common-Law (Inside Canada – non-Quebec)
24 months
⬆ +1 month
Spouse/Common-Law (Inside Canada – Quebec)
37 months
⬇ -1 month
Parents/Grandparents (non-Quebec)
26 months
No change
Parents/Grandparents (Quebec)
44 months
No change
Quebec sponsorship applications remain longer due to added provincial steps.
Canadian Passport Processing
Application Type
Processing Time
Change
New Passport (In-Person, Regular)
10 business days
No change
New Passport (Mail, Regular)
20 business days
No change
Urgent Pick-Up
Next business day
No change
Express Pick-Up
2–9 business days
No change
Passport from Outside Canada
20 business days
No change
Permanent Residency – Economic Classes
Program
Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025)
Change
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
6 months
⬆ +1 month
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
5 months
⬇ -1 month
Provincial Nominee Program (Express Entry)
7 months
⬇ -1 month
Non-Express Entry PNP
19 months
No change
Quebec Skilled Worker
11 months
No change
Federal Self-Employed
61 months
No change
Start-Up Visa
53 months
No change
Atlantic Immigration Program
13 months
No change
Visitor Visas – From Outside Canada
Country
Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025)
Change
India
75 days
⬆ +2 days
United States
23 days
⬇ -5 days
Nigeria
28 days
No change
Pakistan
46 days
⬆ +1 day
Philippines
18 days
No change
Other categories:
Visitor Visa (Inside Canada): 15 days (no change).
Visitor Record (Extension): 165 days (no change).
Super Visa Processing Times
Country
Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025)
Change
India
153 days
⬆ +10 days
United States
78 days
⬆ +4 days
Nigeria
52 days
⬆ +1 day
Pakistan
151 days
⬆ +18 days
Philippines
68 days
⬆ +2 days
Study Permit Applications
Country
Processing Time
Change
India
4 weeks
No change
United States
10 weeks
No change
Nigeria
8 weeks
No change
Pakistan
9 weeks
No change
Philippines
5 weeks
No change
From inside Canada: 6 weeks (⬇ -1 week).
Study Permit Extension: 171 days (⬆ +2 days).
Work Permit Applications
Country
Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025)
Change
India
8 weeks
⬇ -1 week
United States
3 weeks
No change
Nigeria
11 weeks
⬇ -1 week
Pakistan
12 weeks
⬆ +1 week
Philippines
7 weeks
⬆ +1 week
Other categories:
Work Permits (Inside Canada – Initial/Extension): 196 days (⬆ +4 days).
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program: 70 days (⬆ +2 days).
International Experience Canada (IEC): 5 weeks (no change).
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
Most approvals issued within 5 minutes.
Some may take up to 72 hours for additional checks.
Key Takeaways from October 2025 Update
Longer waits: Citizenship grants and CEC PR applications.
Faster approvals: FSWP and Express Entry-linked PNPs.
Family sponsorships: Little change; Quebec remains longer.
Visitor visas: India and Pakistan slightly up; U.S. faster.
Study permits: Mostly stable; small delays in extensions.
Work permits: Mixed results, with Canada-internal permits now at 196 days.
For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!
