Reviewed by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (licensed by the CICC)Last updated:
Short answer
IRCC posts two kinds of timelines: service standards (its target, met for 80% of complete files) and current processing times (how long recent files actually took). For example, the service standard is 6 months for Express Entry and 12 months for spousal sponsorship from outside Canada. Real times move every week, so always check IRCC’s processing times tool before you plan.
Service standard vs processing time
A service standard is IRCC’s goal for a complete application. IRCC aims to finish 80% of files within it, so 1 in 5 can take longer, usually because they are more complex.
The processing time shown on IRCC’s website is based on how long most recent applications took, or, for some PR programs, how long IRCC expects new files to take. It changes as inventories rise and fall.
Service standards for common applications
| Application | IRCC service standard |
|---|---|
| Express Entry (CEC, FSW, FST) | 6 months |
| Provincial nominee through Express Entry | 6 months |
| Provincial nominee outside Express Entry (base) | 11 months |
| Spouse or partner sponsorship, outside Canada | 12 months |
| Visitor visa, outside Canada | 14 days |
| Study permit, outside Canada | 60 days |
| Work or study permit, inside Canada | 120 days |
| Citizenship grant | 12 months |
What makes an application slower
- Missing documents or unclear translations, which lead to requests for more information
- Background or security checks, often longer for some nationalities and travel histories
- Medical exams that are late or need follow-up
- Applications sent before you were eligible, or with mistakes in dates and addresses
- High inventories in a program, such as base provincial nominee and humanitarian files
What to do if your file is delayed
- Compare your wait with the current time on IRCC’s processing times tool, not the time when you applied.
- Check your online account for any request you may have missed, including biometrics and medicals.
- Once you are past the posted time, send a case-specific enquiry through the IRCC web form.
- Order your file notes (GCMS notes) to see exactly where it stands.
- For long, unexplained delays, a licensed representative can advise on stronger steps, such as a request to a Member of Parliament or legal action.
Frequently asked questions
Does time spent answering an IRCC request count?
Time you take to send documents IRCC asked for is usually not counted against IRCC, so answer requests quickly.
Will hiring a consultant make IRCC process my file faster?
No. Nobody can speed up IRCC. A complete, well-organized application avoids the requests and refusals that cause most delays.
How often do processing times change?
IRCC updates many of them weekly or monthly. Check the official tool on canada.ca on the day you plan.
Information on this site is general and is not legal advice. We never guarantee approvals. Only Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes decisions on applications.