Canada: Updated Processing Times for Temporary Residence Applications (2026)

September 27, 2026 · WOWERI

According to IRCC data as of September 22, 2026 (compared with September 16), processing times for work permits, visitor visas and super visas changed for several countries, while study permit times stayed the same.

What changed in processing times for temporary resident applications in Canada?

• Work permits: waiting time rose by one week for applicants from the United States (3 → 4 weeks) and fell by one week for applicants from the Philippines (7 → 6 weeks). No change for India, Pakistan or Nigeria; in‑Canada applications now take 16 weeks (previously 109 days).
• Super‑visa: the biggest drop was for U.S. applicants, from 116 days to 66 days (‑50 days). Small reductions also for Pakistan (95 → 92 days) and Nigeria (46 → 44 days). No change for India or the Philippines.
• Study permits: all listed countries (Canada, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, United States, Philippines) remain at 5 to 10 weeks depending on country.
• Visitor visas: modest increases of 1‑6 days for most countries; Canada and the Philippines stay at 11 and 21 days respectively.

Who does this affect?

• Work permits – applicants inside Canada filing new or renewal requests and those applying from abroad.
• Study permits – students filing new or renewal requests.
• Visitor visas – travelers planning short trips to Canada.
• Super‑visa – parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens filing from abroad.

What does this mean for Russian‑ and Ukrainian‑speaking readers?

If you are applying for any of the above categories, your expected wait may change based on the country of filing. U.S. work‑permit applicants now wait longer, while those from the Philippines wait less. The U.S. super‑visa is now processed almost twice as fast.

What should you do now?

1. Check the country you are applying from and compare the new timelines with your plans.
2. Note the service standards: 120 days for internal work/study filings, 60 days for external work/study filings, 14 days for external visitor visas.
3. If your case is already in progress, monitor its status in the IRCC online system.
4. Prepare any additional documents early to avoid delays.
5. Expect the next IRCC update around September 30 2026 and adjust plans if timelines shift.
6. Consult a licensed immigration lawyer with any questions.

Which dates are important?

• September 22 2026 – publication date of the current estimates.
• ≈ September 30 2026 – expected date of the next IRCC update.
• Service standards: 120 days (internal work/study), 60 days (external work/study), 14 days (external visitor), 112 days (super‑visa).

Original source

IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) – news release cited by CIC News, comparing processing‑time estimates from September 16 2026 and September 22 2026. Source

*This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.*

Source: cicnews.com