Check our current processing times
Select your application type to get an idea of how long it’ll take us to process your application.
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
How processing times work
How we calculated this processing time
This processing time is how long we expect it will take us to process an application if we receive it today.
It’s based on:
- how many applications we have in our inventory
- how many people we have processing this type of application
- how many applications we expect to get
It also includes the time it takes to give your biometrics.
If we’re processing applications quicker than our service standard, we’ll show our service standard. It’s our commitment to process your application in a certain amount of time, under normal circumstances.
Your processing time starts the day we receive your complete application and ends when we make a decision. It may vary depending on how many applications we get or if your application is complex. Your application may be delayed or returned if it’s not complete.
How we calculated this processing time
This is our estimate of how much time it may take to get a decision on an application submitted the month and year you applied.
It’s based on:
- how many applications we have in our inventory
- how many people we have processing this type of application
- how many applications we expect to get
It also includes the time it takes to give your biometrics.
Your processing time starts the day we receive your complete application and ends when we make a decision. It may vary depending on how many applications we get or if your application is complex. Your application may be delayed or returned if it’s not complete.
How we calculate historical (backwards-looking) processing times
We calculate them by checking how long it took us to process 80% of that type of application in the past:
- 6 months (permanent residence applications)
- 8 to 16 weeks (temporary residence applications)
When processing times start
Your processing time starts the day we receive your complete application and ends when we make a decision on it.
When the processing time starts depends on how you applied:
- Online
- When you submit your application online
- Mail
- When your application arrives in our mailroom
Why your application may be taking longer than the processing time
There are a couple of reasons why your application may take longer than the processing time:
- your application may not be complete
- your application is complex
- we need to check more things on your application for security reasons
- the cap for your program has been reached for the year
We’ll contact you if we need more information or documents. Calling us won’t help your application get processed faster.
Why processing times change
For this type of application, we update our forward-looking estimates each month based on:
- the total number of applications we already have to process for a given program
- the number of applications we expect to process each month going forward
The Immigration Levels Plan sets the number of newcomers Canada plans to welcome each year. Our processing capacity can change as well, depending on operational needs. This means the amount of time you have left to wait will generally decrease, but can also increase.
Our projections are estimates based on current operating conditions and may change. They don’t account for sharp increases in received applications, urgent shifts in priorities, or other unforeseen circumstances affecting our operations.
What can make a permanent residence application complex to process
We consider your application complex or non-routine if some parts of your application need extra review or processing on our part.
It may take us longer than the normal processing time to review a non-routine application.
Below are some examples of why your application might be complex or non-routine.
- Your contact information is outdated and we can’t contact you or a family member.
- We requested more documents and they weren’t submitted on time or at all.
- Your dependant(s) turned 18 since you applied.
- You added 1 or more dependants to your application since you applied.
- Your dependant(s) got married and/or had children of their own since you applied.
- You provided legal documents regarding child custody or confirming a change to your marital status.
- You or your family member were asked to resubmit a medical exam because one expired.
- Exams for every person must all be valid at the same time.
- You or a family member were asked to appear for an interview.
- You or a family member might not be eligible.
- Background checks are still in progress for you or your family members.
- There’s a criminal, security or other admissibility issue.
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