{"id":3725,"date":"2025-10-27T15:18:18","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T19:18:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/?p=3725"},"modified":"2025-10-27T15:21:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T19:21:11","slug":"ircc-reports-major-delays-in-processing-times-for-immigration-and-citizenship-applications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/?p=3725","title":{"rendered":"IRCC Reports Major Delays in Processing Times for Immigration and Citizenship Applications"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This adjustment, which provides more individualized and accurate estimates based on each applicant\u2019s submission date, has unveiled the stark reality of longer wait times for thousands of applicants \u2014 particularly those under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)<\/strong>, Start-Up Visa (SUV)<\/strong>, Federal Self-Employed Persons Program<\/strong>, and even citizenship grants<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) Faces Sharpest Delay<\/mark><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Among all economic immigration streams, the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)<\/strong> has seen one of the steepest jumps in processing times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Application Type<\/th>Processing Time (Oct 27)<\/th>Previous (Oct 4)<\/th>Increase<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
AIP<\/td>37 months<\/td>13 months<\/td>+184.6%<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Currently, over 13,100 AIP applications<\/strong> await a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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)<\/strong>, many may lose their legal work status before their permanent residence is approved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To mitigate this, New Brunswick<\/strong> has introduced a temporary solution allowing affected candidates to continue working legally. Other provinces, including Nova Scotia<\/strong>, Prince Edward Island<\/strong>, and Newfoundland and Labrador<\/strong>, are yet to announce similar measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Start-Up Visa (SUV) Wait Times Exceed a Decade<\/mark><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Start-Up Visa Program<\/strong> \u2014 designed for innovative entrepreneurs supported by designated organizations \u2014 has now crossed the 10-year mark<\/strong> in processing times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Application Type<\/th>Processing Time (Oct 27)<\/th>Previous (Oct 4)<\/th>Increase<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Start-Up Visa<\/td>Over 10 years<\/td>53 months<\/td>+126.4%<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While this program grants permanent residence to entrepreneurs contributing to Canada\u2019s 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 \u2014 putting business operations and family stability at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Federal Self-Employed Persons Program Nearly Doubles in Wait Time<\/mark><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Federal Self-Employed Persons Program<\/strong>, which targets cultural and athletic professionals who can contribute to Canada\u2019s artistic or athletic sectors, has also faced a drastic increase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Application Type<\/th>Processing Time (Oct 27)<\/th>Previous (Oct 4)<\/th>Increase<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Self-Employed<\/td>Over 10 years<\/td>61 months<\/td>+96.7%<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The program remains paused until 2027<\/strong>, further delaying potential applicants who have already waited several years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Citizenship Application Delays Continue to Rise<\/mark><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Processing times for citizenship applications<\/strong> have climbed steadily throughout 2025 \u2014 now averaging 13 months<\/strong>, compared to 7 months in January<\/strong>, marking an 85.7% increase<\/strong> this year alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Month<\/th>Processing Time<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
January<\/td>7 months<\/td><\/tr>
April<\/td>8 months<\/td><\/tr>
July<\/td>10 months<\/td><\/tr>
September<\/td>11 months<\/td><\/tr>
October<\/td>13 months<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This steady upward trend has left many permanent residents anxious about delays in completing their citizenship journey, impacting travel, employment, and security clearance timelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Humanitarian and Refugee Applications Face Longest Waits<\/mark><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Processing times for protected persons<\/strong>, Convention refugees<\/strong>, and humanitarian cases<\/strong> have also surged dramatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n