IRCC Announced the New Immigration Processing Time In December
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released updated immigration processing times effective December 2025, providing applicants with a more precise estimate of how long it may take to process various Canadian visa and immigration applications.
The updated timelines apply to a wide range of programs, including Canadian citizenship, permanent residence pathways, family sponsorships, economic immigration streams, and temporary residence visas such as study and work permits.
These revised Canada immigration processing time schedules help applicants plan their travel, education, employment, and long-term settlement in Canada more effectively.
Did You Know?
IRCC calculates processing times from the date a complete application is received until a final decision is issued. The outcome may include approval, refusal, or a request for additional documents.
It is important to note that Canada PR processing times vary for each applicant. Factors such as application type, country of submission, application volume, and document completeness can significantly impact overall timelines.
Canada Citizenship Processing Times: December 9, 2025
| Application Type | Processing Time |
| Citizenship grant | About 13 months |
| Citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship) | About 9 months |
| Resumption of citizenship | Not enough data (December 10, 2025) |
| Renunciation of citizenship | 11 months (December 10, 2025) |
| Search of citizenship records | 13 months |
PR Card Processing Times: December 10, 2025
| Application Type | Processing Time |
| New permanent resident (PR) card | 58 days |
| Renewing or replacing a permanent resident card | 35 days |
Family Sponsorship Processing Times: December 2025
Family sponsorship remains one of the longest wait categories.
| Application Type | Processing Time |
| Spouse, common-law or conjugal partner living outside Canada: Outside Quebec | About 14 months |
| Spouse, common-law or conjugal partner living outside Canada- In Quebec: | About 37 months |
Economic Class Permanent Residency: December 2025
Express Entry streams remain stable, while business and humanitarian streams continue to face long wait times.
| Application Type | Processing Time | People Waiting in the Pool |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | About 37 months | About 13,300 |
| Canadian experience class: Online via Express Entry | About 7 months | About 19,800 |
| Provincial nominees | About 16 months | About 96,000 |
| Provincial nominees: Online via Express Entry | About 6 months | About 10,700 |
| Skilled workers (federal) | About 6 months | About 24,500 |
| Skilled trades (federal) | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Start-Up Visa | More Than 10 Years | About 43,800 |
Temporary Residence (Visiting, Studying, Working & Other): December 10, 2025
Weekly IRCC estimates show higher Canada visitor visa wait times for major source countries.
| Country | Visitor visa | Work permit | Study permit | Super visa |
| India | 117 days | 10 weeks | 4 weeks | 182 days |
| USA | 31 days | 7 weeks | 5 weeks | 42 days |
| Nigeria | 27 days | 8 weeks | 5 weeks | 46 days |
| Pakistan | 86 days | 5 weeks | 5 weeks | 198 days |
| Philippines | 20 days | 6 weeks | 4 weeks | 124 days |
Other Visas
| Application Type | Processing Time |
| Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) | 11 Days |
| International Experience Canada | Current season 5 weeks |
| Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) | 5 minutes |
Factors Influencing Canada Immigration Processing Times
The updated Canada visa processing times released by IRCC provide international applicants with greater clarity and predictability when planning their immigration journey. Knowing the expected timelines for visa categories such as permanent residence, study permits, work permits, visitor visas, and family sponsorship helps candidates manage their applications more efficiently.
Key Benefits for International Applicants:
- Better Planning: Applicants can align their travel, education, or job start dates according to expected processing times. For example, knowing that a study permit takes 4 weeks, versus a PR application that takes several months, helps with scheduling.
- Reduced Uncertainty: Updated timelines minimize guesswork, letting candidates understand how long each step of the process may take.
- Improved Documentation Preparation: Awareness of expected processing times encourages applicants to submit complete, accurate documents, reducing delays caused by requests for additional information.
- Strategic Application Decisions: Candidates can choose the best time to apply based on processing times, seasonal trends, or application volume, which may speed up approval.
- Peace of Mind: Knowing the latest timelines helps international applicants manage expectations, reducing stress and anxiety throughout the immigration process.
In short, IRCC’s updated processing times enable applicants to plan more effectively, apply strategically, and navigate Canada immigration process with confidence.
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Source: canada.ca
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