Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released its updated application processing times for November 2025, revealing notable increases in wait times across several major immigration streams.
Among the most significant changes, processing under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) has surged by nearly 185% compared to six weeks ago — signalling growing delays for this regional economic immigration stream.
Applicants in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), a key Express Entry category, are now facing estimated wait times of seven months, up from the standard six-month processing window seen in early October. Likewise, processing times for visitor visas — particularly from some countries with high demand — have also been affected with longer waits.
The Express Entry system, which includes the CEC and Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), continues to see fluctuating processing times. As of November, FSWP applications now take approximately six months, up from five months in October. Data for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) remains unavailable, as IRCC cites insufficient application volume.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications show a mixed trend. Enhanced PNP applications processed through Express Entry have slightly improved, dropping from seven to six months. However, non-Express Entry (base) PNP streams still face an extended wait time of up to 16 months, though this is an improvement from the previous 19-month estimate.
IRCC aims to process most Express Entry applications within six months, but these recent figures show consistent deviation from that benchmark, particularly as backlogs and resource constraints continue to impact service delivery.
These evolving timelines highlight the importance for applicants and representatives to closely monitor the latest IRCC updates and plan accordingly, as wait times directly impact job offers, family reunification, and settlement timelines.
Maple News will continue to provide timely insights and updates as IRCC responds to shifting workloads and aims for more streamlined immigration pathways.