IRCC Reports Faster Processing Times Across Several Immigration Programs in January Update
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released its January processing time update, bringing positive news for many immigration applicants. Several major permanent residence and temporary residence programs have seen noticeable reductions in wait times, reflecting progress in clearing application backlogs.
Among the most significant improvements are reduced processing times for the Atlantic Immigration Program, the Canadian Experience Class, Parent and Grandparent sponsorships, and Super Visas. However, some categories—including work permits and dependent child sponsorships—have experienced delays.
This update reflects IRCC’s estimated processing timelines for new applications submitted based on its most recent inventory data.
Permanent Residence Processing Updates
Express Entry Applications
Processing times under Express Entry show mixed movement, with some programs improving while others see slight increases.
- The Canadian Experience Class has dropped to a six-month processing time, aligning with IRCC’s service standard.
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program has increased slightly to seven months.
- Processing times for the Federal Skilled Trades Program remain unavailable due to insufficient data.
Despite large invitation rounds at the end of 2025, IRCC appears to be managing CEC applications more efficiently, with tens of thousands of files still under review.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
The Provincial Nominee Program presents a more balanced picture.
- Base PNP applications have finally seen a major improvement, dropping from sixteen months to thirteen months.
- Enhanced PNP applications linked to Express Entry have increased slightly to seven months.
Although enhanced streams are still processed faster overall, base PNP applications continue to face longer-than-targeted timelines due to high volumes.
Quebec Immigration
Processing times for Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program remain unchanged. With no recent invitation rounds held by the province, timelines have stayed stable at eleven months.
Atlantic Immigration Program Sees Long-Awaited Relief
One of the most notable improvements in this update is the Atlantic Immigration Program.
After remaining stalled at nearly three years for several months, processing times have now decreased by four months. While the current wait time is still significantly higher than IRCC’s service standard, the reduction suggests gradual progress in clearing backlogs.
Family Sponsorship: Mixed Results
Parents and Grandparents Program
Applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program have seen one of the largest improvements this month.
- Processing times for applicants planning to live outside Quebec have dropped by three months.
- Quebec-based applications remain significantly longer, with minimal change.
Spousal Sponsorship
Spousal and common-law partner sponsorship timelines remain lengthy.
- In-Canada sponsorship processing has increased slightly.
- Out-of-Canada applications have largely remained stable.
- Applications involving Quebec continue to experience the longest wait times.
Dependent Child Sponsorship
Processing times for dependent child sponsorship have continued to rise.
- Applications submitted from within Canada now exceed nineteen months.
- Applications from certain countries, such as India, have also seen notable increases.
Temporary Residence Processing Trends
Visitor Visas
Visitor visa processing has generally improved for many countries.
- Applications from Pakistan have seen the largest reduction.
- India and the United States have also experienced faster timelines.
- In-Canada visitor visa processing times remain stable.
Work Permits
Work permit processing times show uneven trends.
- Applications from India have improved slightly.
- Processing times for applicants from Pakistan and Nigeria have increased significantly.
- In-Canada work permit processing times remain well above service standards.
IRCC continues to prioritize applications in essential sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and food supply.
Study Permits
Study permit processing times show modest improvements.
- Applications submitted from within Canada and India are now processed faster.
- Timelines for other countries remain relatively stable, with minor fluctuations.
Super Visas
Super Visa applications show strong improvements, particularly for applicants from Pakistan and the United States.
- Some regions have experienced reductions of more than two months.
- Processing times for India remain comparatively long.
Citizenship Applications Face Slight Delays
Citizenship grant processing times remain unchanged at thirteen months. However, proof of citizenship applications have increased slightly, likely due to a surge in submissions following recent legislative changes expanding eligibility for citizenship by descent.
How IRCC Calculates Processing Times
IRCC’s processing times are forward-looking estimates based on current application volumes and past processing trends.
- Processing begins when IRCC receives a complete application and ends with a final decision.
- Timelines are influenced by application complexity, document completeness, and response times.
- Service standards represent IRCC’s internal targets for completing most applications, though not all categories have defined standards.
Key Takeaway
January’s update shows encouraging progress in several high-demand immigration programs, particularly for permanent residence and family reunification. However, applicants should continue to plan carefully, as timelines can vary significantly depending on program type, location, and application volume.
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