Last Updated On 13 February 2026, 10:27 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published its latest processing times as of February 12, 2026, revealing a number of notable shifts across almost every major application category.
From citizenship grants to work permits, the February 2026 IRCC processing times update paints a detailed picture of where applicants can expect longer waits, where backlogs are easing, and which streams remain essentially frozen.
As per IRCC, these estimates are based on the actual timelines experienced by 80% of applicants, replacing the older target-based approach that often failed to reflect real-world waits.
Most of the permanent residency and citizenship categories are updated monthly, while temporary resident applications covering visitor visas, work permits, study permits, and PR cards receive weekly updates.
Processing times can still vary from case to case based on security screening requirements, the country of application, document completeness, background checks, and IRCC’s internal capacity at any given time.
Here is a complete, category-by-category breakdown of every processing time included in the February 2026 update, including items with no change, so that applicants can plan accordingly.
Table of Contents
Citizenship Processing Times (Updated monthly)
The February 2026 citizenship processing times show a clear trend of increasing waits.
Citizenship grant applications now take approximately 14 months, which is one month longer than the January 2026 estimate.
The queue has also grown, with roughly 313,000 people now waiting for their citizenship grant, an increase of about 7,600 applicants compared to the prior month.
| Application Type | People Waiting (Change) | Processing Time (Feb 12, 2026) | Change Since January 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship grant | ~313,000 (+7,600) | 14 months | +1 month |
| Citizenship certificate* | ~47,900 (+5,500) | 11 months | +1 month |
| Resumption of citizenship | Not available | Not available | No change |
| Renunciation of citizenship | Not available | 18 months | +7 months |
| Search of citizenship records | Not available | 16 months | +3 months |
IRCC is currently issuing acknowledgment of receipt (AOR) for citizenship applications submitted around October 8, 2025.
* Processing may take longer for applicants outside Canada or the United States.
Permanent Resident Card Processing Times (Updated weekly)
Permanent resident card processing remains one of the more efficient areas of IRCC’s operation in February 2026.
While the improvements are marginal, the overall trajectory is positive.
| Application Type | Processing Time (Feb 11, 2026) | Change Since January 21 |
|---|---|---|
| New PR card | 61 days | -1 day |
| PR card renewal | 30 days | -1 day |
Family Sponsorship Processing Times (Updated monthly)
The family sponsorship category presents a mixed picture in February 2026.
For spousal or common-law partner sponsorship from outside Canada in non-Quebec provinces, processing now stands at 15 months, one month longer than the January estimate.
About 47,300 people are waiting in this stream, up by 1,600 from the previous month.
The Quebec equivalent remains significantly longer at 35 months with no change, though the queue there has shrunk slightly by 200 applicants to approximately 19,100.
| Category | People Waiting (Change) | Processing Time (Feb 12, 2026) | Change Since January 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse/common-law outside Canada (non-Quebec) | ~47,300 (+1,600) | 15 months | +1 month |
| Spouse/common-law outside Canada (Quebec) | ~19,100 (-200) | 35 months | No change |
| Spouse/common-law inside Canada (non-Quebec) | ~52,600 (+500) | 21 months | No change |
| Spouse/common-law inside Canada (Quebec) | ~12,100 (+100) | 35 months | -1 month |
| Parents/grandparents (non-Quebec) | ~48,300 (-2,000) | 35 months | -2 months |
| Parents/grandparents (Quebec) | ~12,000 (-400) | 47 months | -1 month |
Humanitarian and Compassionate And Protected Persons (Updated monthly)
The humanitarian and protected persons categories remain among the most challenging in Canada’s immigration system.
Humanitarian and compassionate grounds (H&C) applications continue to show processing times exceeding 10 years both inside and outside Quebec, with no change from January 2026.
The queue for H&C outside Quebec stands at approximately 49,800 people, up by 900, while the Quebec equivalent has about 18,100 people waiting, an increase of 300.
| Category | People Waiting (Change) | Processing Time (Feb 12, 2026) | Change Since January 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| H&C outside Quebec | ~49,800 (+900) | More than 10 years | No change |
| H&C in Quebec | ~18,100 (+300) | More than 10 years | No change |
| Protected persons inside Canada (outside Quebec) | ~99,500 (+3,600) | About 17 months | No change |
| Protected persons inside Canada (in Quebec) | ~37,000 (+700) | About 112 months | +2 months |
| Dependents of protected persons (outside Quebec) | ~55,400 (+1,300) | About 37 months | No change |
| Dependents of protected persons (in Quebec) | ~20,800 (+400) | About 119 months | +1 month |
Canadian Passport Processing Times
Canadian passport processing times remain completely stable in February 2026 with no changes across any category.
| Application Type | Current Processing Time | Change Since January 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| New passport (in-person, Canada) | 10 business days | No change |
| New passport (mail, Canada) | 20 business days | No change |
| Urgent pick-up | Next business day | No change |
| Express pick-up | 2–9 business days | No change |
| Passport mailed from outside Canada | 20 business days | No change |
Key takeaway: Passport processing is stable and remains one of the most predictable services.
Permanent Residency Processing Times Under Economic Class (Updated monthly)
The economic immigration class covers Canada’s primary pathways for skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and provincially nominated candidates.
In the February 2026 update, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) processing time has increased to seven months, one month longer than January.
The CEC queue has grown significantly, with about 34,200 people now waiting compared to roughly 25,400 previously, marking an increase of approximately 8,800 applicants.
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) also processes in seven months but shows no change from January.
Its queue, however, has expanded by 8,400 applicants to approximately 43,000 people.
| Category | People Waiting (Change) | Processing Time (Feb 12, 2026) | Change Since January 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | ~34,200 / 25,400 (+8,800) | 7 months | +1 month |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | ~43,000 (+8,400) | 7 months | No change |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) | Not available | Not enough data | No change |
| PNP (Express Entry) | ~12,400 (+1,600) | 7 months | No change |
| Non-Express Entry PNP | ~108,300 (+5,700) | 13 months | -3 months |
| Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) | ~26,400 (-300) | 11 months | No change |
| Quebec Business Class | ~3,900 (-100) | 80 months | +1 month |
| Federal Self-Employed | ~8,100 (-100) | More than 10 years | No change |
| Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) | ~13,700 (+100) | 33 months | No change |
| Start-Up Visa | ~45,600 (+400) | More than 10 years | No change |
Temporary Visa Processing Times (Updated weekly)
Temporary visa processing times for February 2026 cover visitor visas, super visas, study permits, and work permits across the most common countries of application.
Unlike the monthly updates for permanent residency, these figures are refreshed weekly, giving applicants more current data to work with.
Visitor Visas From Outside Canada
Visitor visa processing times from outside Canada vary significantly depending on the applicant’s country.
| Country | Processing Time (Feb 11, 2026) | Change Since January 28, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| India | 78 days | -5 days |
| United States | 25 days | No change |
| Nigeria | 51 days | +11 days |
| Pakistan | 58 days | +2 days |
| Philippines | 18 days | +2 days |
- Visitor visa inside Canada: 21 days (No change Since January 28, 2026, but +7 days since Dec 31, 2025)
- Visitor record extension: 209 days (+48 days Since January 28, 2026)
Super Visa Processing Times
The super visa, designed primarily for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to visit for extended stays, shows wide variation across countries.
Indian applicants face the longest super visa processing time at 213 days, though this represents a marginal one-day improvement from the prior period.
| Country | Processing Time (Feb 11, 2026) | Change Since January 28, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| India | 213 days | -1 day |
| United States | 205 days | +18 days |
| Nigeria | 46 days | +8 days |
| Pakistan | 124 days | -2 days |
| Philippines | 112 days | +3 days |
Study Permit Processing Times
Study permit processing times remain relatively stable across most countries in the February 2026 update.
Indian applicants can expect four weeks of processing time with no change, while American applicants face seven weeks, also unchanged.
| Country | Processing Time (Feb 11, 2026) | Change Since January 28, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| India | 4 weeks | No change |
| United States | 7 weeks | No change |
| Nigeria | 8 weeks | +1 week |
| Pakistan | 7 weeks | +2 weeks |
| Philippines | 5 weeks | No change |
- Study permit inside Canada: 8 weeks (+1 week Since January 28, 2026)
- Study permit extension: 93 days (-11 days Since January 28, 2026)
Work Permit Processing Times
Work permit processing shows a mostly stable picture except for two notable outliers.
Indian applicants continue waiting eight weeks, American applicants face 10 weeks, and Nigerian applicants wait nine weeks — all unchanged from the January 28 update.
The dramatic exception is Pakistan, where work permit processing surged by 10 weeks to a staggering 30 weeks.
| Country | Processing Time (Feb 11, 2026) | Change Since January 28, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| India | 8 weeks | No change |
| United States | 10 weeks | No change |
| Nigeria | 9 weeks | No change |
| Pakistan | 30 weeks | +10 weeks |
| Philippines | 7 weeks | +1 week |
- Work permits inside Canada: 246 days (+5 days Since January 28, 2026 and +36 days since Dec 31,, 2025)
- Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program: 7 days (No change Since January 28, 2026, but -3 days since Dec 31)
- International Experience Canada (IEC): 2 weeks (-6 weeks Since January 28, 2026, and -4 weeks since Dec 31, 2025)
- Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): 5 minutes for most applicants; up to 72 hours for additional screening
The February 2026 IRCC processing times reveal a system in transition — with growing queues across citizenship and economic categories, yet meaningful reductions in family sponsorship for parents and grandparents and non-Express Entry PNP.
February typically sees a post-holiday surge in submissions as applicants who delayed during December and January finalize their paperwork.
This seasonal effect may partially explain the rising queues visible across citizenship, spousal sponsorship, and economic immigration categories in this update.
Applicants should stay vigilant, track updates closely, and prioritize complete, accurate submissions to give themselves the best chance of falling within the published processing estimates.
For the latest updates on Canadian immigration news, policy changes, and IRCC processing times, bookmark this page and check back regularly as new data is released throughout 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I expedite my IRCC application to get a faster processing time?
IRCC does not offer a general expedite option for most immigration categories. However, applicants can minimize delays by ensuring all required documents are submitted upfront, responding to any requests for additional information within the stated deadlines, keeping biometrics current, and maintaining an up-to-date mailing address in their IRCC portal. In cases involving genuine humanitarian urgency, applicants may use the IRCC web form to explain their circumstances and request priority processing.
Why are Quebec immigration processing times longer than the rest of Canada?
Quebec operates its own immigration selection system under the Canada-Quebec Accord. Applications involving Quebec require an additional provincial review and approval step before IRCC can finalize the federal portion. This two-tier review creates an extra processing layer that adds months or sometimes years compared to non-Quebec streams, which is why categories like spousal sponsorship in Quebec take 35 months versus 15 to 21 months outside Quebec.
What does it mean when IRCC shows ‘more than 10 years’ for a processing time?
When IRCC displays “more than 10 years” as the processing estimate, it signals an extreme backlog in that specific category with no clear timeline for resolution. This currently affects humanitarian and compassionate grounds applications and certain programs like the Start-Up Visa and Federal Self-Employed categories. In practical terms, applicants in these streams should explore alternative immigration pathways or consult an immigration lawyer about supplementary options while their application remains in queue.
Are IRCC processing times guaranteed or just estimates?
IRCC processing times are estimates, not guarantees. They represent the timeframe within which 80 percent of applications in each category were processed historically. Individual timelines can vary significantly based on factors such as incomplete submissions, the need for security screenings, the country of application, and fluctuating IRCC processing capacity. About 20 percent of applicants in any given category will experience processing times longer than the published estimates.
What is the timeline for a work permit extension in Canada?
The processing time for a work permit extension in Canada typically ranges from 4 to 6 months for applications submitted from within the country. However, this duration can vary based on the type of work permit and the volume of applications being processed. For the most accurate and current information regarding your specific situation, check the latest processing times on the official Government of Canada website. It is crucial to apply for the extension before your current work permit expires to maintain your legal status in Canada.
What is the duration of support in Canada's Group of Five program?
In Canada's Group of Five program, a group of five or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents must provide financial and emotional support to a refugee for a minimum of 12 months. This support can be extended if the group chooses to continue assisting the refugee beyond the initial period. The group is responsible for covering essential needs, such as housing and food, and plays a crucial role in helping the refugee integrate into Canadian society. For more information, visit the Government of Canada website.
What are the current IRCC processing times for TRV Visa?
As of the latest updates, the processing time for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is approximately 34 to 36 months. However, specific details regarding the most current processing times for TRVs may not be explicitly stated. For the latest information and updates, it is advisable to visit the official IRCC website or check your IRCC account for personalized updates.
Will there be an education job category draw in Canada this year?
Yes, the education job category is expected to be included in the upcoming Express Entry draws this year. Canada plans to introduce three new categories for Express Entry, which will focus on attracting skilled workers in French-language proficiency, healthcare and social services, and education occupations. This initiative aims to address labor shortages in these critical sectors and enhance the immigration system. For more information, you can check the Express Entry rounds.
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