Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated processing times for immigration applications on September 10, 2025. The department reduced processing times for some programs and increased times for others compared to July 23, 2025 data.
The updates cover temporary residence applications including study permits, work permits, visitor visas, and super visas. Permanent residence programs including Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program, and family sponsorship also see changes. Citizenship application processing times remain mostly stable.
Study Permits Processing Times Decreased
IRCC cut study permit processing times for applicants in Canada. It went from 12 weeks in July to just 6 weeks in September. This sharp improvement helps thousands of international students secure permit approvals faster and continue their studies without delay.
| Country | July | Sept | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada (initial) | 12 weeks | 6 weeks | −50% |
| India | 3 weeks | 4 weeks | +33.3% |
| United States | 7 weeks | 10 weeks | +42.9% |
| Pakistan | 11 weeks | 9 weeks | −18.2% |
| Nigeria | 5 weeks | 8 weeks | +60% |
Work Permit Processing Times Increased
Work permit processing shows big differences in the latest update. Some countries have seen processing times more than double. Canadian applicants now wait longer, with times going from 182 days to 190 days. This is just an 8-day increase, but it pushes the wait beyond the 120-day service standard. Now, it exceeds the standard by 70 days.
| Country | July | Sept | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 182 days | 190 days | +4.4% |
| India | 7 weeks | 8 weeks | +14.3% |
| United States | 4 weeks | 3 weeks | −25% |
| Pakistan | 5 weeks | 12 weeks | +140% |
| Nigeria | 12 weeks | 22 weeks | +83.3% |
Visitor Visa Processing Times Increased
Visitor visa processing times have increased in most countries, according to IRCC’s latest update. India saw the sharpest rise, jumping from 28 days in July to 63 days in September. Pakistan’s timeline grew from 36 to 48 days, and the United States saw a modest increase from 21 to 24 days.
Canada and Nigeria were the only exceptions. Applications from within Canada dropped from 25 to 13 days, while Nigeria’s processing time improved from 56 to 31 days. These shifts reflect regional differences in application volumes and IRCC’s current workload.
| Country | July | Sept | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 25 days | 13 days | −48% |
| India | 28 days | 63 days | +125% |
| United States | 21 days | 24 days | +14.3% |
| Pakistan | 36 days | 48 days | +33.3% |
| Nigeria | 56 days | 31 days | −44.6% |
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No Major Change in Super Visa Processing Times
Super visa processing times have remained mostly stable in IRCC’s latest update, with only minor changes across countries.
- India: No chang, remains at 139 days
- United States: Slight increase from 87 to 89 days (+2.3%)
- Pakistan: Improved from 126 to 112 days (−11.1%)
- Nigeria: Slight improvement from 57 to 55 days (−3.5%)
- Philippines: Decreased from 74 to 71 days (−4.1%)
Express Entry Processing Time Decreased for In-Canada Applicants
Express Entry processing times for in-Canada applicants have improved in IRCC’s latest update. The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) stream now takes 5 months to process, holding steady since July but still below the 6-month service standard.
Processing times for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) have remained unchanged since July 2025, holding steady at 6 months.
PNP Processing Times Remains Unchanged
Express-Entry Aligned PNP applications continue to take 8 months, exceeding the 6-month service standard. Base PNP applications still require 19 months, well above the 11-month benchmark. Processing times for base streams can change depending on when an applicant submits their complete application.
Canada Family Sponsorship Latest Processing Times
Spousal sponsorship processing times have changed notably in IRCC’s September 2025 update. For applicants living inside Canada (intending to reside outside Quebec), processing times decreased, dropping from 34 months to 23 months.
However, for those intending to settle in Quebec, timelines increased from 38 months to 53 months. For spouses living outside Canada, processing times increased from 11 to 15 months, while Quebec-bound applications went from 37 to 41 months.
Canada Spousal Sponsorship Processing Times Decreased for In-Canada Applicants
Here is the latest processing times update for Canada’s spousal sponsorship.
| Applicant Location | Intended Residence | July 2025 | Sept 2025 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Canada | Outside Quebec | 34 months | 23 months | −32.4% |
| Inside Canada | Quebec | 38 months | 53 months | +39.5% |
| Outside Canada | Outside Quebec | 11 months | 15 months | +36.4% |
| Outside Canada | Quebec | 37 months | 41 months | +10.8% |
Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Processing Time Decreased
Processing times for the Parents and Grandparents Program have improved, according to IRCC’s September 2025 update. Applications from families planning to live outside Quebec saw a clear decrease compared to July. Applications for Quebec also became a bit faster. Here is the latest update on processing times for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship.
| Intended Residence | July 2025 | Sept 2025 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outside Quebec | 36 months | 26 months | −27.8% |
| Quebec | 48 months | 41 months | −14.6% |
Dependent Children
As of September 2025, IRCC’s Processing time for dependent child sponsorship applications in Canada is now 29 months.
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Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) Processing Times Increased
Processing times for Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) have increased from 9 months in July to 11 months in September 2025.
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
IRCC’s Processing times for the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) have increased slightly, rising from 12 months in July to 13 months in September 2025.
Canadian Citizenship
Processing times for Canadian citizenship applications have mostly stayed the same in IRCC’s September 2025 update. The citizenship grant stream saw a small increase from 10 to 11 months. This is still within the 12-month service standard. Meanwhile, citizenship certificates, which prove citizenship, remained at 5 months. This shows no change since July.
Need help?
The processing time update for September 2025 shows that the immigration system is under a lot of stress. This strain is causing service delivery problems that impact different program categories and regions. Some programs, like Canadian study permits, show clear progress. However, others are facing delays that could slow down Canada’s immigration and economic goals.
Please feel free to contact us for a consultation and let us help you with your immigration needs.
