Canada has released new processing-time estimates for temporary residence applications, with applicants in some countries facing longer waits while others have seen improvements.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated the figures on August 19, 2026. The latest estimates cover work permits, study permits, visitor visas and super visas. They are compared with the previous figures published on August 12.
The biggest improvement was recorded for work permit applications from Pakistan. However, visitor visa processing became slower in several countries.
Work Permit Processing Times
Applicants submitting a work permit application from Pakistan saw the largest improvement. The estimated waiting period fell from 12 weeks to seven weeks.
Processing inside Canada also became slightly faster, falling from 119 days to 117 days. Times remained unchanged for applicants in India, Nigeria, the United States and the Philippines.
| Applying from | August 19 estimate | August 12 estimate |
| Canada | 117 days | 119 days |
| India | 9 weeks | 9 weeks |
| Pakistan | 7 weeks | 12 weeks |
| Nigeria | 9 weeks | 9 weeks |
| United States | 2 weeks | 2 weeks |
| Philippines | 6 weeks | 6 weeks |
IRCC’s service standard is 120 days for new work permit and extension applications submitted inside Canada. The standard for most applications submitted from outside Canada is 60 days.
Study Permit Times Remain Mostly Stable
There was little movement in study permit processing times. Nigeria was the only country in the comparison to record an increase. Its estimated waiting period rose from eight weeks to nine weeks.
The figures for Canada, India, Pakistan, the United States and the Philippines remained unchanged.
| Applying from | August 19 estimate | August 12 estimate |
| Canada | 7 weeks | 7 weeks |
| India | 5 weeks | 5 weeks |
| Pakistan | 7 weeks | 7 weeks |
| Nigeria | 9 weeks | 8 weeks |
| United States | 5 weeks | 5 weeks |
| Philippines | 4 weeks | 4 weeks |
The official service standard is 60 days for a new study permit application submitted outside Canada. For new permits and extensions submitted inside Canada, the standard is 120 days.
Visitor Visa Waits Increase in Several Countries
Visitor visa applicants experienced some of the most noticeable changes in the latest update. Pakistan recorded the largest increase. Its estimated processing time rose by 14 days, from 61 days to 75 days.
Processing also became slightly slower for applications from India, Nigeria and the Philippines. The waiting period remained at 21 days for applicants in the United States.
Applications made from inside Canada moved in the opposite direction. The estimate fell from 15 days to 12 days.
| Applying from | August 19 estimate | August 12 estimate |
| Canada | 12 days | 15 days |
| India | 31 days | 30 days |
| Pakistan | 75 days | 61 days |
| Nigeria | 76 days | 72 days |
| United States | 21 days | 21 days |
| Philippines | 21 days | 18 days |
IRCC has a 14-day service standard for new visitor visa applications submitted outside Canada. The latest figures show that processing in all five countries listed above is currently taking longer than that standard.
Super Visa Processing Times
The super visa allows eligible parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to visit Canada for extended periods.
The longest estimated wait among the countries listed was for applications from Pakistan, at 176 days. This was still an improvement from the previous estimate of 180 days.
The United States recorded the largest increase. Its processing time rose from 123 days to 138 days. Smaller increases were reported for Nigeria and the Philippines, while the figure for India remained unchanged.
| Applying from | August 19 estimate | August 12 estimate |
| India | 56 days | 56 days |
| Pakistan | 176 days | 180 days |
| Nigeria | 53 days | 52 days |
| United States | 138 days | 123 days |
| Philippines | 107 days | 105 days |
The official service standard for a new parent and grandparent super visa application submitted outside Canada is 112 days. According to IRCC’s service standards, the department aims to process at least 80% of applications within the stated period.
Processing Times Are Not Guaranteed Deadlines
A processing-time estimate and a service standard are not the same thing.
The processing time tells applicants how long IRCC currently expects a new application to take. A service standard is the department’s target for completing a certain percentage of applications.
IRCC explains that its estimates are affected by the number of applications in its system, available processing staff and the number of new applications it expects to receive.
The processing period generally begins when IRCC receives a complete application and ends when a decision is made. It may also include the time needed to provide biometrics.
An application can take longer if documents are missing, information is difficult to verify, additional security checks are required or the case is more complex than usual. Applicants may also experience delays if they do not quickly respond to a request for further information.
Applicants Should Check Again Before Making Plans
Processing estimates can change from one week to another. A shorter estimate does not mean that an application will be approved, while a longer estimate does not suggest that a refusal is more likely.
Applicants should check the official IRCC processing-time tool before booking travel, starting employment or making final study arrangements.
Canada is expected to publish its next temporary residence processing-time update on or around August 26, 2026.