Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated processing times for temporary resident applications, covering work permits, study permits, and visitor visas. The latest estimates, released February 24, show several notable shifts across different applicant origins.
For work permits, the updates indicate a mix of modest moves rather than broad changes. Canada-based processing times improved from 256 days to 246 days. Nigeria-based applications shortened from 11 weeks to 9 weeks. Times for India and the United States remained steady at about 8 weeks and 10 weeks, respectively, while Pakistan stayed around 30 weeks.
Visitor visa processing times generally edged lower across multiple countries, signaling small but across-the-board improvements in some markets.
In study permits, the United States saw a one-week decrease in processing time, while Pakistan-based study permit timelines remain markedly long, sitting around 30 weeks. This underscores a pronounced backlog for Pakistani applicants relative to other countries.
IRCC also reaffirmed its service standards: in-Canada submissions (initial and extensions) target 120 days; submissions from outside Canada target 60 days; and International Experience Canada permits target 56 days. The Feb. 24 update compares figures against the Feb. 17 estimate, illustrating a mix of improvements and persistent backlogs across categories.
Overall, Maple News notes that while some categories show modest gains, Pakistan’s study permit backlog remains a notable outlier. Applicants should plan with these timelines in mind and consider consulting an experienced immigration professional to navigate evolving processing times.