On This Page You Will Find:
- Updated Express Entry processing times
- Provincial and Quebec immigration timelines
- Start-Up Visa application wait times
- Family sponsorship wait times
- Temporary visa and permit processing times
- Citizenship application processing duration
Understanding how long it takes to process immigration and visa applications is essential when planning your move to Canada. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updates processing times regularly to help applicants stay informed.
Below, you will find updated processing times for major immigration programs as of November 4, 2025, including permanent residence, family sponsorship, temporary residence, and citizenship.
Where processing times vary depending on the country a candidate is applying from, we have used the most popular source countries as examples.
Permanent Residence Applications
Express Entry
Express Entry is Canada’s flagship application system for skilled workers. It includes three programs: Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, and Federal Skilled Trades Program.
| Application Type | Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025) | Processing Time (Nov 4, 2025) |
| Canadian Experience Class | 6 months | 6 months |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | 5 months | 6 months |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | N/A | N/A |
Service standard: 6 months for all Express Entry programs.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
The PNP allows provinces and territories to nominate candidates for permanent residence based on local labour market needs. Applications can be processed through Express Entry or submitted directly to IRCC.
| Application Type | Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025) | Processing Time (Nov 4, 2025) | |
| Through Express Entry (enhanced) | 7 months | 7 months | |
| Non–Express Entry (base) | 19 months | 16 months |
Start-Up Visa
The Start-Up Visa program is for immigrant entrepreneurs who want to build innovative businesses in Canada. Processing times have grown significantly due to increased demand.
| Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025) | Processing Time (Nov 4, 2025) | |
| Start-Up Visa | 53 months | More than 10 years |
Quebec Immigration
Quebec manages its own skilled worker program known as the PSTQ. Though the service standard is six months, the current backlog has led to much longer wait times.
| Stream | Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025) | Processing Time (Nov 4, 2025) |
| Skilled Worker Selection (PSTQ) | 11 months | 11 months |
Service standard: 6 months. Nearly 24,000 applications are currently awaiting processing.
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
The AIP helps employers in Atlantic Canada hire skilled foreign workers and international graduates. It offers a pathway to permanent residence in the region.
| Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025) | Processing Time (Nov 4, 2025) | |
| AIP | 13 months | 37 months |
Service standard: 11 months.
Family Sponsorship
Family sponsorship allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their spouses, partners, parents, grandparents, or children for permanent residence.
| Application Type | Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025) | Processing Time (Nov 4, 2025) |
| Spouse/common-law partner in Canada (outside Quebec) | 24 months | 22 months |
| Spouse/common-law partner in Canada (in Quebec) | 37 months | 39 months |
| Spouse/common-law partner outside Canada (non-Quebec) | 15 months | 15 months |
| Spouse/common-law partner outside Canada (Quebec) | 41 months | 39 months |
| Parents and Grandparents (outside Quebec) | 26 months | 26 months |
| Parents and Grandparents (Quebec) | 44 months | 44 months |
Service standard for out-of-Canada spousal sponsorship: 12 months.
Dependent Child Sponsorship
You can sponsor a dependent child either from within or outside Canada. Processing times vary depending on the child’s location and the complexity of the application.
Within Canada
| Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025) | Processing Time (Nov 4, 2025) | |
| Dependent child | 12 months | 13 months |
Outside Canada
| Country | Processing Time | Processing Time (Nov 4, 2025) | |
| India | 6 months | 6 months | |
| Nigeria | 18 months | 19 months |
Service standard: 12 months for outside-Canada cases.
Temporary Residence Applications
Temporary residence applications include visitor visas, work permits, study permits, and super visas. These are for individuals who want to come to Canada temporarily.
Visitor Visas
Visitor visas allow foreign nationals to enter Canada for tourism, family visits, or business. Processing times vary depending on the country of origin.
| Country | Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025) | Processing Time (Nov 4, 2025) |
| Canada | 15 days | 19 days |
| India | 75 days | 96 days |
| Pakistan | 46 days | 59 days |
| Nigeria | 28 days | 29 days |
| United States | 23 days | 37 days |
Service standard for outside-Canada applications: 14 days.
Work Permits
Work permits allow foreign nationals to work in Canada temporarily. Times differ by application type and where the application is submitted.
| Country | Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025) | Processing Time (Nov 4, 2025) |
| Canada | 196 days | 226 days |
| India | 8 weeks | 10 weeks |
| Pakistan | 12 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Nigeria | 11 weeks | 10 weeks |
| United States | 3 weeks | 4 weeks |
Service standards: 120 days (in Canada), 60 days (outside Canada).
Study Permits
Study permits are for international students attending designated learning institutions in Canada. Processing depends on where the applicant is located.
| Country | Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025) | Processing Time (Nov 4, 2025) |
| Canada | 7 weeks | 11 weeks |
| India | 4 weeks | 5 weeks |
| Pakistan | 9 weeks | 10 weeks |
| Nigeria | 8 weeks | 8 weeks |
| United States | 10 weeks | 5 weeks |
Service standards: 120 days (in Canada), 60 days (outside Canada).
Super Visas
Super visas allow parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to visit Canada for extended stays of up to five years per visit.
| Country | Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025) | Processing Time (Nov 4, 2025) |
| India | 153 days | 168 days |
| Pakistan | 151 days | 203 days |
| Nigeria | 52 days | 51 days |
| United States | 78 days | 76 days |
Service standard: 112 days.
Citizenship Applications
Canadian citizenship applications include grants for new citizens and certificates for those proving citizenship by descent. Processing depends on type and volume.
| Application Type | Processing Time (Oct 1, 2025) | Processing Time (Nov 4, 2025) |
| Citizenship grant | 13 months | 13 months |
| Citizenship certificate (proof of status) | 7 months | 8 months |
FAQ: Canada Immigration Application Processing Times – November 2025
What are the current Express Entry processing times for 2025?
As of November 4, 2025, Express Entry applications take about six months to process across all three programs: the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, and Federal Skilled Trades Program. This matches IRCC’s official six-month service standard.
Why has the Start-Up Visa processing time increased so much?
The Start-Up Visa program now takes more than 10 years to process due to a surge in demand and backlogs in applications supported by business incubators. The federal government has said it is reviewing measures to speed up processing and reduce the extensive waiting period for entrepreneurs.
How long does it take to process a spousal sponsorship application in 2025?
Spousal sponsorship processing times vary by location. As of November 2025, applications outside Canada take about 15 months, while inland applications can take between 22 and 39 months depending on whether they are in Quebec or other provinces.
What are the latest wait times for study and work permits?
Study permit processing currently takes about five weeks for applicants from India and up to 11 weeks for those applying from within Canada. Work permit applications submitted inside Canada are processed in about 226 days, while most outside-Canada applications take between 8 and 10 weeks on average.
How long does it take to become a Canadian citizen in 2025?
Citizenship grant applications are currently processed in about 13 months, while citizenship certificate (proof of status) applications take around eight months. These times may vary depending on the applicant’s location and completeness of the file.
