Canadian immigration application processing times can now be personalised

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) now provides greater transparency regarding expected times for permanent residence (PR) and Canadian citizenship applications.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its online application processing tool, allowing applicants to check

• When they can expect their application to be processed, adjusted based on when they submitted their application; and
• The status of their application in the queue.

Prior to this update, permanent residence and citizenship applicants could only view average processing times depending on the application type (and programme, if applicable) selected, and this time did not account for the date they submitted their application.

The interface for temporary residence applications remains unchanged.

How has the IRCC processing tool changed?

IRCC processing tool The tool has been updated to include two questions under certain application types, allowing users to gain insight into their position in the queue to better understand their immigration processing times.

• Question 1: Have you already applied?
  • Users can select “Yes” or “No.”
• Question 2: When did you apply?
  • Users can enter the year and date.

Scenario one: You have already applied

If a user selects “Yes” for question 1 and then enters the application date for question 2, the website will display:

• The estimated time remaining until a decision is made on the application (depending on when it was submitted);
• The number of people ahead in the processing queue for the selected application type; and
• The total number of people currently awaiting a decision.

Furthermore, the tool now displays—for comparison—the processing time for those who “apply now.”

Hypothetical example: In May 2025, you submitted an economic immigration application under the Atlantic Immigration Programme (AIP). It is now 16 October, and she wants to see how much longer it will take for a decision to be made on the application.

This is what she will enter when checking the processing time for this application type:

After clicking “Get processing time,” you will be informed of the following:

• Estimated time remaining: 26 months.
• People ahead of her: Approximately 9,500.
• Total number of people awaiting a decision: Approximately 13,100.
• Processing time for those who apply now: Approximately 37 months.

Scenario two: You have not yet applied

If you have not yet applied, meaning you answer “No” to question 1, the user will be shown:

• The processing time if applying today; and
• The total number of people currently awaiting a decision.

Hypothetical example, continued: Your friend also wants to immigrate to Canada via the AIP and has not yet applied, but is curious about the processing time.

She will answer “No” when responding to “Have you already applied?”

After clicking “Get processing time,” your friend will be informed of the following:

• Estimated processing time: Approximately 37 months.
• Total number of people awaiting a decision: Approximately 13,100.

Note: When attempting to view processing times for certain application types, users may be asked to answer additional questions, primarily based on location (applying from or intending to settle in).

Which programmes are affected by application processing times?

Currently, applicants can only view personalized processing estimates and information regarding the number of people ahead or the total number of people awaiting a decision for the following application types:

Economic immigration

• Atlantic Immigration Program
• Express Entry:
  • Canadian Experience Class
  • Federal Skilled Worker Programme
• Provincial Nominee Programme
• Self-Employed Persons Programme
• Quebec business
• Start-up Visa Programme

Family sponsorship

• Spouse or common-law partner living in Canada
• Spouse or common-law partner living outside Canada
• Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Programme

Currently, applicants cannot view personalized processing time information for the sponsorship of dependent children, adopted children, or other relatives.

Nationality

• Citizenship grant.
• Citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship).

Other application types

• Humanitarian and compassionate cases.
• Refugees – Protected persons and convention refugees (in Canada).

All other application types not listed above, such as document replacement or amendment applications, have not been affected by the new IRCC processing time tool update.