COW – Processing Times and Service Delivery – May 28, 2026

Aim: 80% completed applications processed within service standards

High demand for available spaces

Cross-training so we can move staff to where demand is highest

• We received almost 6 million calls and more than 2 million emails in 2025.
• Processing times vary based on a country's political and economic conditions, the number of applications we are processing, security checks and high demand for available space.
• Long wait times are not caused by the number of officers that we have.
• We have improved our processing times tool. Most applicants can get a better estimate based on when they applied, plus find out the number of people in the inventory and approximately how many are ahead of them.
• Highlights:
  • improved processing times tool for better estimates for clients;
  • a new online account for clients that will become the single-window to all our services;
  • automatic release of officer decision notes for temporary resident application refusals;
  • an enhanced digital platform that will enable us to better manage shifting application volumes, to support faster processing times.