📅 Updated: May 2025
✍️ By Nohproblem Consulting | Expert Canadian Immigration Support
Canada’s immigration system continues to evolve, and one key metric that applicants monitor closely is IRCC’s processing time—the average duration it takes for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to finalize applications. In 2025, changes to processing times have affected both temporary and permanent residence pathways.
This blog provides a comparative snapshot of how long major application types take to process now versus a year ago (June 2024). Understanding these timelines can help applicants better prepare for their Canadian immigration journey.
🛂 Permanent Residence Applications
✔️ Express Entry (CEC, FSWP, FSTP)
Good news! Express Entry programs have remained steady:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): ⏳ 5 months (unchanged)
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSWP): ⏳ 5 months (unchanged)
- Federal Skilled Trades (FSTP): ❌ No current data (was 6 months)
IRCC Target: 180 days
✔️ Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Express Entry-aligned PNP: ⏬ 5 months (down from 6)
- Base PNP: ⏫ 20 months (up from 11)
🧭 Base PNPs have nearly doubled in wait time—plan accordingly.
✔️ Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
- ⏳ 11 months (up from 7 months)
📌 AIP remains a strong option for PR, especially with its temporary work permit feature during PR processing.
✔️ Spousal Sponsorship
Processing times vary by type and destination:
| Application Type | May 2025 | June 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| SCLPC (outside Quebec) | 29 months | 10 months |
| Family Class (outside Quebec) | 10 months | 10 months |
| SCLPC (in Quebec) | 26 months | 28 months |
| Family Class (in Quebec) | 36 months | 34 months |
🔺 SCLPC outside Quebec shows the sharpest increase — nearly +20 months.
✈️ Temporary Residence Applications
✔️ Visitor Visas (Outside Canada)
| Country | May 2025 | June 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| India | 19 days | 44 days |
| Nigeria | 100 days | 177 days |
| USA | 19 days | 27 days |
| Pakistan | 27 days | 110 days |
| Philippines | 29 days | 21 days |
✅ Most countries saw faster approvals—Nigeria showed the most improvement.
✔️ Visitor Records (Inside Canada)
- ⏫ 161 days (up from 88 days)
✔️ Work Permits
Inside Canada:
- 🕒 238 days (up from 101 days)
Outside Canada:
| Country | May 2025 | June 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| India | 15 weeks | 19 weeks |
| Nigeria | 12 weeks | 21 weeks |
| USA | 9 weeks | 15 weeks |
| Pakistan | 6 weeks | 31 weeks |
| Philippines | 6 weeks | 28 weeks |
✅ Outside-Canada applications are moving faster—Pakistan and Philippines see major gains.
✔️ Study Permits
Inside Canada:
- ⏬ 5 weeks (was 14 weeks)
✅ Processing has been cut by more than half.
Outside Canada (May 2025 only):
| Country | Time |
|---|---|
| India | 10 weeks |
| Nigeria | 5 weeks |
| USA | 5 weeks |
| Pakistan | 17 weeks |
| Philippines | 17 weeks |
Extensions: 55 days (down from 236 days)
🏅 Citizenship Applications
✔️ Citizenship Grant
- ⏫ 10 months (was 8 months)
✔️ Citizenship Certificate (Proof)
- ⏫ 4 months (was 3 months)
📍 If applying from outside Canada or the U.S., expect 3–4 months extra.
🎯 Processing Time vs. Service Standard
- Processing Time = Estimated average based on real-time IRCC data.
- Service Standard = Target set by IRCC (typically 80% of cases).
🔔 Your application might take more or less time than average—delays can depend on completeness, background checks, or program demand.
📝 Final Takeaway
IRCC has made strides in improving processing times for some application types—especially international study and work permits. But delays persist in categories like inland spousal sponsorship and base PNP applications.
➡️ To stay ahead, applicants should:
- Check updated IRCC timelines weekly: IRCC Official Site
- Submit complete, well-documented applications
- Consult immigration professionals for strategic advice
📞 Need help navigating your next immigration step?
At Nohproblem Consulting, we offer personalized consultations, document review, and application strategies for work permits, PR, and more. Contact us today to get started!
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#CanadaImmigration #IRCCProcessingTimes #ExpressEntry #PNP #StudyPermit #WorkPermit #SpousalSponsorship #CanadaPR #NohproblemConsulting #ImmigrateToCanada #IRCCUpdates #VisaProcessing
