IRCC Updates Temporary Residence Processing Times; Work Permits Mixed, Study Permits Up One Week
As of late July 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada released new processing-time estimates for work permits, study permits, and visitor visas. In-Canada work permit processing improved to its lowest level this year, but Pakistan and Nigeria saw increases.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published updated processing-time estimates as of July 28, 2026, showing mixed movement across temporary residence categories. In-Canada work permit processing times continued their recent improvement, reaching their lowest level in 2026, while study permit processing held steady for most countries. However, applicants from Pakistan and Nigeria experienced notable delays.
For in-Canada work permit applications, processing times improved for the second consecutive week, contributing to the year's best performance. Work permits submitted from the Philippines also saw faster processing. Conversely, Pakistan-based work permit applications faced a one-week increase, and Nigeria saw wait times lengthen by one week as well.
Study permit processing showed no movement for most countries in the most recent update (July 22–28), but the prior week (July 15–22) had reported increases for Pakistan and Nigeria—each up by one week from their four-week baseline. Visitor visa and Super Visa applications saw modest changes, with five-day improvements for Philippines Super Visa applications but increases for U.S. Super Visa submissions.
Practical Timeline for Your Application
- In-Canada work permit applicants: Current estimates sit at approximately 7 weeks, the lowest this year—favorable timing if you are renewing or applying for a new authorization.
- Work permits from India, U.S.: Generally 4–5 weeks; stable in recent updates.
- Study permits (global): Ranging from 1 to 8 weeks depending on country of origin; no surprises in the latest update.
- Super Visa (parents/grandparents): 4–8 weeks depending on source country; note that as of July 15, family sponsorship for parents and grandparents is paused, making Super Visa a primary temporary visit option.
IRCC updates temporary residence processing times weekly and permanent residence/citizenship times monthly. Service standards for temporary residence applications were last revised in 2018–2019, so the published estimates reflect actual operational performance rather than guaranteed timelines.
Sources
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