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November 2025 Canada Immigration Processing Times: What You Need to Know

ICC Immigration Inc > Blogs > Announcement > November 2025 Canada Immigration Processing Times: What You Need to Know

Canada’s immigration system is evolving rapidly, and keeping track of IRCC processing times is more important than ever. On November 6, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released its latest update, offering applicants a clearer view of how long it might take to obtain permanent residency, citizenship, work permits, study permits, or family sponsorships.

Understanding these timelines is essential for planning your move, whether you aim to reunite with family, study, work, or secure permanent residency in Canada.

Citizenship Processing Times

Citizenship application timelines continue to fluctuate:

  • Citizenship Grant: ~290,700 people waiting, 13 months processing time (no change from October).

  • Citizenship Certificate: ~39,000 people, 9 months processing time (up 1 month).

  • Renunciation of Citizenship: 22 months, up 12 months.

  • Search of Citizenship Records: 13 months, unchanged.

Applicants outside Canada or the U.S. may experience longer delays for citizenship certificates. IRCC is currently issuing acknowledgment letters for applications submitted around July 28, 2025.

Permanent Resident Card Processing

PR card processing is updated weekly:

  • New PR Card: 61 days, no change.

  • PR Card Renewal: 29 days, down 1 day.

While renewals are seeing slight improvements, new card applications are facing minor delays.

Family Sponsorship

Family sponsorship timelines remain long, particularly in Quebec:

  • Spouse/Common-Law (Outside Canada, non-Quebec): 14 months

  • Spouse/Common-Law (Outside Canada, Quebec): 37 months

  • Parents/Grandparents (non-Quebec): 42 months

  • Parents/Grandparents (Quebec): 50 months

Applicants should plan carefully, as provincial approvals in Quebec add additional complexity.

Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) and Protected Persons

H&C applications and protected person cases remain among the slowest:

  • H&C (Outside Quebec): More than 10 years

  • Protected Persons (Outside Quebec): About 100 months

  • Dependents of Protected Persons: 50 months

These categories continue to face significant backlogs.

Temporary Resident Visas, Study and Work Permits

Visitor visa processing times (outside Canada):

  • India: 99 days

  • Pakistan: 59 days

  • Philippines: 21 days

Study permits:

  • India: 4 weeks

  • Pakistan: 9 weeks

  • Inside Canada: 12 weeks

Work permits:

  • India: 10 weeks

  • Inside Canada: 227 days (initial & extension)

  • Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program: 15 days

IRCC estimates are not guaranteed, as timelines depend on background checks, case complexity, and application volume.

Permanent Residency – Economic Class

Processing times for major economic pathways show varied trends:

  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 7 months

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): 6 months

  • PNP (Express Entry): 6 months

  • Non-Express Entry PNP: 16 months

  • Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW): 11 months

  • Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): 37 months

  • Start-Up Visa: More than 10 years

Express Entry programs remain steady, while business immigration pathways and Atlantic programs are experiencing significant delays.

How ICC Immigration Can Help You Secure Your Future

Navigating Canada’s immigration system can be daunting. ICC Immigration provides professional guidance to help you secure permanent residency, work permits, study permits, and family sponsorships without relying on uncertain asylum claims.

Our services include:

  • Permanent Residency Applications: Smooth processing via Express Entry, PNPs, and other pathways.

  • Work and Study Permits: Temporary solutions that pave the way to permanent residency.

  • Family Sponsorships: Reuniting with your loved ones and securing PR status.

  • Expert Legal Guidance: Ensuring compliance with Canadian immigration policies and maximizing success.

Instead of facing unpredictable pathways, ICC Immigration helps you choose stable, legal routes to PR. Our team is ready to guide you at every stage, whether you are in Canada or planning your immigration journey.