Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has ushered in a new update cycle for Canada’s immigration system by releasing its latest processing times, which took effect on October 1, 2025.
The changes apply to processing times for key application streams: citizenship, permanent residency, study and work permits, visitor visas, and family sponsorship. These timelines play a direct role in shaping the plans of thousands of prospective applicants worldwide.
Permanent Resident (PR)
- New PR card: 56 days
- PR card renewal: 32 days
Family Sponsorship
- Spouse/Common-law (Outside Canada, non-Quebec): 15 months
- Spouse/Common-law (Outside Canada, Quebec): 41 months
- Spouse/Common-law (Inside Canada, non-Quebec): 24 months
- Spouse/Common-law (Inside Canada, Quebec): 37 months
- Parents/Grandparents (non-Quebec): 26 months
- Parents/Grandparents (Quebec): 44 months
Canadian Passport
- In Canada, new passport (in-person, regular): 10 business days
- In Canada, new passport (mail, regular): 20 business days
- Urgent pick-up: End of next business day
- Express pick-up: 2–9 business days
- Passport mailed from outside Canada: 20 business days
Economic Class PR
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 6 months
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): 5 months
- Provincial Nominee Program (Express Entry): 7 months
- Non-Express Entry PNP: 19 months
- Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW): 11 months
- Federal Self-Employed: 61 months
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): 13 months
- Start-Up Visa: 53 months
Tourism and Visitor Visa (from outside Canada)
- Argentina: 15 days
- Brasil: 37 days
- Colombia: 57 days
- Costa Rica: 15 days
- Ecuador: 36 days
- Guatemala: 15 days
- Honduras: 15 days
- Nicaragua: 17 days
- Mexico: 63 days
- Paraguay: 15 days
- Peru: 15 days
- Uruguay: 16 days
Study Permit
- Argentina: *6 weeks
- Brasil: 5 weeks
- Colombia: 6 weeks
- Costa Rica: *7 weeks
- Ecuador: 6 weeks
- Guatemala: *7 weeks
- Honduras: *8 weeks
- Nicaragua: *8 weeks
- Mexico: 5 weeks
- Paraguay: *8 weeks
- Peru: 4 weeks
- Uruguay: *7 weeks
- In these countries, processing duration depends on the volume of applications.