IRCC Reports Major Delays in Processing Times for Immigration and Citizenship Applications
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revealed a significant increase in processing times across multiple immigration and citizenship programs following an update to its online processing time estimator earlier this month.
This adjustment, which provides more individualized and accurate estimates based on each applicant’s submission date, has unveiled the stark reality of longer wait times for thousands of applicants — particularly those under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), Start-Up Visa (SUV), Federal Self-Employed Persons Program, and even citizenship grants.
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) Faces Sharpest Delay
Among all economic immigration streams, the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) has seen one of the steepest jumps in processing times.
| Application Type | Processing Time (Oct 27) | Previous (Oct 4) | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIP | 37 months | 13 months | +184.6% |
Currently, over 13,100 AIP applications await a final decision.
This extended wait poses challenges for AIP applicants who are already working in Atlantic provinces under employer-specific work permits. These permits are typically valid for up to two years, but since AIP applicants are not eligible for Bridging Open Work Permits (BOWPs), many may lose their legal work status before their permanent residence is approved.
To mitigate this, New Brunswick has introduced a temporary solution allowing affected candidates to continue working legally. Other provinces, including Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, are yet to announce similar measures.
Start-Up Visa (SUV) Wait Times Exceed a Decade
The Start-Up Visa Program — designed for innovative entrepreneurs supported by designated organizations — has now crossed the 10-year mark in processing times.
| Application Type | Processing Time (Oct 27) | Previous (Oct 4) | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start-Up Visa | Over 10 years | 53 months | +126.4% |
While this program grants permanent residence to entrepreneurs contributing to Canada’s innovation economy, the current delays have raised serious concerns among founders and investors. Many entrepreneurs arrive first on a work permit, only to wait years before gaining PR approval — putting business operations and family stability at risk.
Federal Self-Employed Persons Program Nearly Doubles in Wait Time
The Federal Self-Employed Persons Program, which targets cultural and athletic professionals who can contribute to Canada’s artistic or athletic sectors, has also faced a drastic increase.
| Application Type | Processing Time (Oct 27) | Previous (Oct 4) | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-Employed | Over 10 years | 61 months | +96.7% |
The program remains paused until 2027, further delaying potential applicants who have already waited several years.
Citizenship Application Delays Continue to Rise
Processing times for citizenship applications have climbed steadily throughout 2025 — now averaging 13 months, compared to 7 months in January, marking an 85.7% increase this year alone.
| Month | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| January | 7 months |
| April | 8 months |
| July | 10 months |
| September | 11 months |
| October | 13 months |
This steady upward trend has left many permanent residents anxious about delays in completing their citizenship journey, impacting travel, employment, and security clearance timelines.
Humanitarian and Refugee Applications Face Longest Waits
Processing times for protected persons, Convention refugees, and humanitarian cases have also surged dramatically.
- For refugees (outside Quebec), the wait time has jumped from 73 months (6 years, 1 month) in January to 99 months (8 years, 3 months) now — an increase of 35.6%.
- Humanitarian and compassionate cases now exceed 10 years, leaving many vulnerable applicants in prolonged uncertainty.
Growing Backlogs and Policy Challenges
These surging delays highlight a growing challenge for IRCC: balancing high immigration demand with limited processing capacity.
While the new processing tool provides more transparency, it also exposes the mounting backlog across key immigration streams.
Experts suggest that modernization of IRCC’s systems, increased staffing, and better digital case management will be essential to restore efficiency and meet Canada’s immigration targets for 2026 and beyond.
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