Immigration, study, employment, and tourism are all common reasons for people to choose Canada. The nation provides a range of visa choices, such as work permits, study permits, visitor visas, and permanent residency (PR). Knowing how long it takes to get a visa is one of the most critical parts of the immigration process, and it will help you plan your relocation to Canada. The length of time it takes to process an application might vary based on its nature, the applicant’s place of origin, and the volume of work that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), formerly known as Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), has on its hands. This comprehensive guide will explain the many kinds of Canadian visas and applications for permanent residence, as well as how to verify the processing times and what factors affect them. Canada Visa Processing Time The official IRCC website provides information on the processing times for applications for permanent residence and Canadian visas. Based on a number of variables, such as the volume of applications, the intricacy of each case, and the staff’s availability, these times are updated on a regular basis. Tool for IRCC Processing Time For many application categories, the IRCC Processing Time Tool offers current estimations. The tool can be used as follows: Go to IRCC Processing Times, the official website of the IRCC. Choose the application type (PR, work permit, guest visa, etc.). Provide the necessary information, including the nation from where you are applying. The average processing time for your application type will be shown by the tool. Canada Visitor Visa Processing Time Canada Visitor Visa Processing time can take several weeks to several months to process, depending on the applicant’s country of origin and the amount of applications being handled. Online applications are frequently handled more quickly than those that are filed on paper. For instance, USA: two to four weeks. Nigeria: four to six weeks. Canada PR Processing Time Depending on the program you’re applying under, there are wide variations in the processing times for permanent residency. The most popular path to permanent residency in Canada for skilled workers is through Express Entry. An Express Entry PR application typically takes six months to process, however this can vary based on the volume of applications that are being processed at any particular moment. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): The processing of PNP applications, which are initially handled by the province and subsequently by the federal government, can take anywhere from 12 to 19 months. Family Sponsorship: Depending on the region of application and the intricacy of the case, the processing period for family sponsorship, particularly for spouses or common-law partners, typically lasts 12 months. Canada Student Visa Processing Time The length of time it takes to obtain a study permit depends on the applicant’s country of origin and the season (longer processing times may occur during peak application seasons like the summer). Processing takes six to twelve weeks on average. India: six weeks (up one week from September 11 and two weeks from July 24). Nigeria: nine weeks (up one week from September 11 and three weeks from August 20). United States: 12 weeks (up 3 weeks overall since July 24, but unchanged since August 27). Pakistan: nine weeks (up one week from August 27 but unchanged since September 11). Philippines: 7 weeks (a decrease of 1 week overall since July 24 but no change after August 27) IRCC Visa Processing Times In the past, the IRCC has calculated processing times by using the length of time it took to finish applications or render a decision. According to the agency, it bases its backward processing times on the amount of time it took to process 80% of applications for permanent residency programs over the previous six months, and for temporary resident programs, the previous eight or sixteen weeks. Applications for temporary residency, such as work permits, study permits, and guest visas, may still be submitted using this procedure. Student Study Visa Processing Time & Backlog Remarkably, there is a 46% backlog in study permit applications. Given the recent modifications to Canada’s international student program, this is hardly shocking. Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs), as mandated by the IRCC, must now be provided by all provinces to all overseas candidates who have been admitted to a recognized educational institution. The majority of provinces did not have a system in place for issuing PALs until March, despite the IRCC introducing this change in January. 214,000 of the 262,000 citizenship applications in the inventory met service criteria, while the 47,400 that weren’t in order were backlogs. Conclusion When preparing to relocate to Canada, it is essential to know how long it takes to complete applications for permanent residence and visas to Canada. Although the IRCC and CIC offer broad schedules, a number of variables, including the kind of visa, your place of origin, and the thoroughness of your application, might affect how long it takes to hear back. You can guarantee your application is handled as quickly as possible by using online resources, completing comprehensive applications, and remaining informed throughout the process.
