On May 26 2026 Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released updated processing‑time estimates for temporary residence applications. Compared with the previous update on May 20, most categories saw modest changes, but work‑permit processing for Nigeria increased by four weeks and for India by one week.
Work permits
| Origin | Current (May 26) | May 20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Canada | 201 days | 206 days | –5 days |
| India | 10 weeks | 9 weeks | +1 week |
| Pakistan | 6 weeks | 6 weeks | – |
| Nigeria | 16 weeks | 12 weeks | +4 weeks |
| United States | 5 weeks | 5 weeks | – |
| Philippines | 8 weeks | 8 weeks | – |
Service standards
- In‑Canada submissions (initial and extensions): 120 days
- Outside‑Canada submissions: 60 days
Study permits
| Origin | Current (May 26) | May 20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Canada | 6 weeks | 6 weeks | – |
| India | 4 weeks | 4 weeks | – |
| Pakistan | 7 weeks | 7 weeks | – |
| Nigeria | 6 weeks | 6 weeks | – |
| United States | 5 weeks | 5 weeks | – |
| Philippines | 4 weeks | 5 weeks | –1 week |
Service standards
- In‑Canada submissions (initial and extensions): 120 days
- Outside‑Canada submissions: 60 days
Visitor visas
| Origin | Current (May 26) | May 20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Canada | 25 days | 16 days | +9 days |
| India | 28 days | 28 days | – |
| Pakistan | 49 days | 50 days | –1 day |
| Nigeria | 48 days | 48 days | – |
| United States | 26 days | 25 days | +1 day |
| Philippines | 21 days | 20 days | +1 day |
Service standard for outside‑Canada submissions: 14 days (no standard for in‑Canada applications).
Super visas
| Origin | Current (May 26) | May 20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 116 days | 117 days | –1 day |
| Pakistan | 74 days | 75 days | –1 day |
| Nigeria | 36 days | 37 days | –1 day |
| United States | 106 days | 115 days | –9 days |
| Philippines | 33 days | 32 days | +1 day |
Note: Super visas cannot be applied for from within Canada.
Service standard: 112 days.
Understanding IRCC processing estimates
- Historical estimates reflect how long it has taken IRCC to complete roughly 80 % of applications in a given category, based on past performance.
- Forward‑looking estimates use current application backlogs and processing capacity to project how long newly submitted cases may take.
These figures are estimates, not guarantees. Actual processing times can vary due to case complexity, completeness of the application, requests for additional documentation, staffing levels, and seasonal workload fluctuations.
IRCC’s service standards are internal targets that aim to process about 80 % of applications within the stated timeframe under normal conditions. They differ from the publicly posted processing estimates and are reviewed less frequently; the current temporary‑residence standards were last updated in 2018‑2019.
Practical considerations
- Applicants should monitor both the processing‑time estimates and the service standards to gauge expected timelines.
- Significant increases (e.g., the four‑week rise for Nigerian work permits) may affect planning for employment start dates and employer sponsorship.
- For categories where processing times have shortened (e.g., U.S. super visas), applicants might experience faster outcomes, but should still prepare for possible delays.
- Because estimates can change weekly, checking the IRCC website regularly is advisable, especially for time‑sensitive applications.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
