Improving estimates for application processing times

Ottawa, May 2, 2024 —To strengthen Canada’s immigration system, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is improving the online processing times tool to help new clients predict how long it will take to process a complete application.

Forward-looking processing times are now available for the following applications:

• Canadian Experience Class (Express Entry)
• Provincial Nominees Program (Express Entry and non-Express Entry)
• Federal Skilled Workers (Express Entry)
• Quebec Skilled Workers
• citizenship grants
• citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship)
• spouse or common-law partner living inside Canada
• spouse, common-law or conjugal partner living outside Canada
• parents or grandparents

What are forward-looking processing times?

Forward-looking processing times estimate how long clients applying today should expect to wait before a final decision is made on their application (or to take the oath of citizenship, for citizenship grant applicants). The estimates will be updated monthly, and will provide realistic and up-to-date information so clients can make travel and life plans based on an accurate timeline.

For other types of applications

For the remaining types of applications not listed above, we will still use backward-looking, historical processing times. Backward-looking processing times are calculated based on how long it took IRCC to process 80% of applications in the past 6 months for permanent residence programs, and 8 or 16 weeks for temporary residence programs.

For those who have already applied

If you have already applied and are waiting for your application to be processed, the new forward-looking times may show estimates that are less than the amount of time you have already been waiting. The tool reflects the amount of time that a person submitting a new application today could expect to wait, starting at the end of the queue. This is because there are various factors that impact our projected processing times at any given point in the year.

If you have already applied, you are closer to the front of the queue. Applications will still be processed in the order we receive them, and in most cases, you will wait no more than the new forward-looking processing time for a final decision. Do not reapply, as this will put your application at the end of the queue and it will take longer to process.

IRCC will continue to improve our online tools through testing and research, so clients can have a more transparent, predictable and welcoming experience.