The issue of application processing times is always in the center of attention of applicants, because from this depends not only the planning of relocation, study or employment, but also psychological comfort. The Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published the next update of the timelines as of September 10, 2025.
These indicators are based on analysis of 80% of completed cases and have indicative character. They can change depending on workload of the system, quality of submitted documents and necessity of additional verifications.
Permanent Residence
- Express Entry
- Canadian Experience Class — 5 mo. (unchanged)
- Federal Skilled Worker — 7 mo. (+1 mo.)
- Provincial Programs (PNP)
- Enhanced (through EE) — 8 mo. (unchanged)
- Base — 20 mo. (+1 mo.)
- Atlantic Immigration Program — 13 mo. (+1 mo.)
- Start-Up Visa — 53 mo. (+1 mo.)
- Federal Self-Employed — 61 mo. (+1 mo.)
- Quebec Skilled Worker — 11 mo. (+2 mo.)
Family Sponsorship
- Spouses/partners
- Outside Canada (Non-Quebec) — 15 mo. (+2 mo.)
- Outside Canada (Quebec) — 41 mo. (unchanged)
- Inside Canada (Non-Quebec) — 23 mo. (–13 mo.)
- Inside Canada (Quebec) — 38 mo. (–2 mo.)
- Parents and grandparents
- Non-Quebec — 26 mo. (–10 mo.)
- Quebec — 44 mo. (–4 mo.)
- SCLPC (Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class)
- Non-Quebec categories — 36 mo. (+2 mo.)
- In Quebec — 40 mo. (+2 mo.)
- Family Class (other categories)
- Non-Quebec — 13 mo. (+2 mo.)
- In Quebec — 41 mo. (+4 mo.)
In general, timelines in family sponsorship lengthened from 2 to 4 months, especially in Quebec categories.
Temporary Residence
- TRV (outside Canada):
- India — 58 days (was 28)
- Pakistan — 48 (was 36)
- Nigeria — 32 (was 56)
- Philippines — 20 (was 33)
- USA — 23 (was 21)
- TRV in Canada — 14 days (–4 days)
- Visitor record — 176 days (–17 days)
- Visitor Extension — 170 days (–10 days)
- SAWP — 70 days (+17)
- IEC — 5 weeks (unchanged)
- eTA — 5 min.–72 hrs. (unchanged)
Work Permits
- Outside Canada:
- India — 8 weeks (was 7)
- Pakistan — 9 (was 5)
- Nigeria — 11 (was 12)
- Philippines — 6 (unchanged)
- USA — 3 (was 4)
- Inside Canada: 188 days (+6)
Study Permits
- Outside Canada:
- India — 3 weeks (unchanged)
- Pakistan — 9 (was 11)
- Nigeria — 8 (was 5)
- Philippines — 7 (was 10)
- USA — 10 (was 7)
- Inside Canada: 10 weeks (–2)
- Extension of permit: 164 days (–16)
PR Cards
- New card — 36 days (unchanged)
- Renewal — 33 days (+1 day)
Citizenship
- Naturalization (Citizenship Grant) — 11 mo. (+1 mo.)
- Citizenship Certificate (Proof) — 5 mo. (unchanged)
- Renunciation of Citizenship — 10 mo. (+5 mo.)
- Records Search — 13 mo. (–1 mo.)
Passports
- New Passport (In-Person) — 10 bus. days (unchanged)
- New Passport (Mail) — 20 bus. days (unchanged)
- Urgent Pick-Up — by next bus. day
- Express Pick-Up — 2–9 bus. days
- Regular Passport (Mailed from Outside Canada) — 20 bus. days
(all timelines — unchanged)
Conclusions
The changes of IRCC timelines in September 2025 demonstrate different dynamics:
- Family sponsorship significantly slowed down, especially in Quebec.
- Express Entry and majority of economic programs remain stable, with slight increase of timelines.
- Study permits in Canada and TRVs inside the country are processed faster.
- Passports and PR cards preserved stability.
Key detail:
applications submitted before July 7, 2025 will receive AOR in the coming weeks, which will become an important stage for many applicants.
