Applying for a passport or work permit in Canada? Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has shared its latest processing times.
The government department has been working to reduce wait times and recently announced that it’s aiming to process passport renewals in Canada within 30 business days or your money back.
As for study permits, work permits, and visitor visas, processing times are updated weekly. An IRCC representative told us in an email that processing times can vary due to several factors.
“Visa offices face different challenges operating in different countries and regions, and even in different offices within the same region,” they stated.
“Actual processing times vary according to a number of factors, such as how well and how quickly clients respond to any communication from IRCC or how easily Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada can verify the information provided.”
They added that IRCC aims to process at least 80 per cent of complete applications within service standards.
“This allows for expected delays in complex cases or when we need more information from clients before we can finalize their files,” they said. “We continue to digitize applications and harness automation technologies to speed up processing while protecting and prioritizing the safety and security of Canadians.”
Whether you’re applying for a work permit or a visitor visa, here’s how long you can expect to wait, according to IRCC.
Applications inside Canada
Passports
- Not including mailing time
- Regular service — 10 business days
- Submitted in person — 10 business days
- Urgent pick-up — By the end of the next business day
- Express pick-up — two to nine business days
Temporary residence
- Visitor visa — 14 days
- Study permit — three weeks
- Work permit and extension — 121 days
Applications outside Canada
Passports
- Not including mailing time
- Applications from outside Canada or the U.S. — 20 business days
Study permit
- India — 28 days
- China – 27 days
- U.S. — 16 days
- Pakistan — 19 days
- Philippines — 15 days
- Nigeria — 118 days
Work permit
- India — 19 weeks
- China – 13 weeks
- U.S. — 81 weeks
- Pakistan — eight weeks
- Philippines — five weeks
- Nigeria — 15 weeks
Visitor visa
- India — 28 days
- China – 27 days
- U.S. — 16 days
- Pakistan — 19 days
- Philippines — 15 days
- Nigeria — 118 days
