Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released updated processing times for temporary residence applications on April 29, 2026, with several categories showing notable improvements. The update highlights shorter timelines for work permits and study permits, while visitor visas saw modest increases across the board. The changes reflect a two-week window analysis from April 15 to April 29, 2026, according to IRCC data.
Work permits show the strongest gains among temporary-residence routes, with Pakistan experiencing about an eight-week reduction and Nigeria approximately a six-week reduction in processing times.
For study permits, Pakistan posted the largest improvement, with roughly a three-week shorter processing time, while Nigeria saw about a two-week decrease.
Visitor visas, by contrast, experienced modest increases in processing times across the countries covered in the update.
IRCC also reiterates its service standards: 120 days for in-Canada submissions (initial applications and extensions), 60 days for submissions from outside Canada, and 56 days for International Experience Canada permits. These benchmarks help contextualize the recent changes and what applicants may expect going forward. While the gains are welcome, volumes and backlogs in certain regions can still influence overall wait times.