Last Updated On 31 December 2025, 3:39 PM EST (Toronto Time)
December 2025 IRCC Processing Times: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has provided the latest update on processing times as of December 31, 2025.
These IRCC processing times are now offering applicants a clearer look at how long it may take to receive visas, permits, permanent residency, or citizenship decisions in the months ahead.
Processing times play a crucial role for families, workers, students, and permanent residency applicants planning their next steps.
These timelines determine when newcomers can reunite with loved ones, begin new jobs, start studies, or secure vital immigration documents.
Over the past five years, we have continuously monitored IRCC’s updates, and the trends shown in this latest release highlight just how much processing volumes and operational pressures continue to shape immigration outcomes in 2025.
During these years, IRCC also overhauled its processing time tool to provide estimates based on the real timelines experienced by 80% of applicants.
This replaced the old target-based system, which no longer reflected actual wait times.
Permanent residency and citizenship categories now receive monthly updates, while temporary resident visas, work permits, study permits, and PR cards are updated every week.
While IRCC’s estimates offer valuable guidance for applicants, they do not guarantee anything.
Wait times can vary due to security screening, country of application, document completeness, background verification, and IRCC’s internal capacity.
This updated guide summarizes the most recent processing times across all major application categories and explains why monitoring these changes is more important than ever.
Table of Contents
Citizenship Processing Times
Updated Monthly
| Application Type | Number of People Waiting For Decision & Comparison With Last Update | Processing Time (Dec 9, 2025) | Change Since November |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship Grant | ~297,000 (+6,300) | 13 months | No change |
| Citizenship Certificate* | ~40,400 (+1,400) | 9 months | No change |
| Resumption of Citizenship | Not available | Not available | No change |
| Renunciation of Citizenship | Not available | 11 months | -11 months |
| Search of Citizenship Records | Not available | 13 months | No change |
*Processing may take longer for applicants outside Canada or the United States.
IRCC is currently issuing acknowledgment of receipt (AOR) for applications submitted around September 15, 2025.
Permanent Resident Card Processing Times
Updated Weekly
| Application Type | Processing Time (Dec 31, 2025) | Change Since Nov |
|---|---|---|
| New PR Card | 55 days | -4 days |
| PR Card Renewal | 34 days | +2 days |
Renewal applications show mild improvement, while new PR cards have slightly longer wait periods.
Family Sponsorship Processing Times
Updated Monthly
| Category | Number Waiting & Change | Processing Time (Dec 9, 2025) | Change since Nov |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse/Common-Law (Outside Canada, non-Quebec) | ~45,700 (+500) | 14 months | No change |
| Spouse/Common-Law (Outside Canada, Quebec) | ~19,400 (-700) | 36 months | -1 month |
| Spouse/Common-Law (Inside Canada, non-Quebec) | ~50,600 (+700) | 20 months | No change |
| Spouse/Common-Law (Inside Canada, Quebec) | ~12,000 (-200) | 36 months | -1 month |
| Parents/Grandparents (non-Quebec) | ~51,600 (+4,500) | 40 months | -2 months |
| Parents/Grandparents (Quebec) | ~12,600 (-300) | 49 months | -1 month |
Family sponsorship remains one of the most delayed categories, particularly in Quebec due to the additional provincial approval process.
Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) and Protected Persons
Updated Monthly
| Category | Number Waiting & Change | Processing Time (Dec 9, 2025) | Change Since November |
|---|---|---|---|
| H&C Outside Quebec | ~48,900 (-400) | More than 10 years | No change |
| H&C In Quebec | ~17,600 (+600) | More than 10 years | No change |
| Protected Persons (Outside Quebec) | ~145,600 (+4,300) | About 103 months | +3 months |
| Protected Persons (In Quebec) | ~55,900 (+1,000) | About 108 months | +2 months |
| Dependents of Protected Persons | Not available | 51 months | +1 month |
These remain among the longest wait times in all Canadian immigration categories.
Canadian Passport Processing Times
| Application Type | Current Processing Time | Change Since November |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Passport services are some of the most stable and predictable, with most processed within two to three weeks.
Permanent Residency – Economic Class
Updated Monthly
| Category | Number Waiting & Change | Processing Time (Dec 9, 2025) | Change Since November |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | ~21,700 (+1,900) | 7 months | No change |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | ~27,600 (+3,100) | 6 months | No change |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) | Not available | Not enough data | No change |
| PNP (Express Entry) | ~10,200 (-500) | 6 months | No change |
| Non-Express Entry PNP | ~98,500 (+2,500) | 16 months | No change |
| Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) | ~27,200 (+800) | 11 months | No change |
| Quebec Business Class | ~4,100 | 84 months | No change |
| Federal Self-Employed | ~8,200 (-300) | More than 10 years | No change |
| Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) | ~13,400 (+100) | 37 months | No change |
| Start-Up Visa | ~44,400 (+600) | More than 10 years | No change |
Express Entry categories remain stable, while business and Atlantic programs continue experiencing extensive delays.
Temporary Visa Processing Times
Updated Weekly
Visitor Visas From Outside Canada
| Country | Processing Time (Dec 31, 2025) | Change Since November |
|---|---|---|
| India | 117 days | +8 days |
| United States | 25 days | -7 days |
| Nigeria | 31 days | +6 days |
| Pakistan | 75 days | -13 days |
| Philippines | 17 18 days | -4 days |
- Visitor visa inside Canada: 14 days (-4 days Since November)
- Visitor record extension: 173 days (-30 days Since November)
Super Visa Processing Times
| Country | Processing Time (Dec 31, 2025) | Change Since November |
|---|---|---|
| India | 197 days | +24 days |
| United States | 77 days | +19 days |
| Nigeria | 38 days | -10 days |
| Pakistan | 178 days | -20 days |
| Philippines | 117 days | -5 days |
Study Permit Processing Times
| Country | Processing Time (Dec 31, 2025) | Change Since November |
|---|---|---|
| India | 3 weeks | -1 week |
| United States | 6 weeks | No change |
| Nigeria | 5 weeks | -1 week |
| Pakistan | 5 weeks | -2 weeks |
| Philippines | 4 weeks | No change |
- Study permit inside Canada: 7 weeks (-2 weeks Since November)
- Study permit extension: 119 days (-32 days Since November)
Work Permit Processing Times
| Country | Processing Time (Dec 31, 2025) | Change Since November |
|---|---|---|
| India | 9 weeks | -1 week |
| United States | 9 weeks | +5 weeks |
| Nigeria | 9 weeks | No change |
| Pakistan | 12 weeks | +4 weeks |
| Philippines | 5 weeks | -1 week |
- Work permits inside Canada: 210 days (-19 days Since November)
- Seasonal agricultural worker program: 9 days (-3 days Since November)
- International Experience Canada (IEC): 6 weeks (+1 Week Since November)
- Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): 5 minutes for most applicants; up to 72 hours for additional screening.
The December 2025 update shows significant variation across programs.
While some Express Entry streams maintain stable timelines, categories such as citizenship, humanitarian pathways, Super Visas, and certain in-Canada extensions continue to lengthen.
Quebec applications remain slower due to the dual provincial-federal review structure.
Given Canada’s high immigration volumes and the ongoing modernization of IRCC systems, applicants should expect fluctuations and plan well ahead of deadlines.
Submitting complete documentation, checking updates regularly, and preparing flexible timelines remain essential.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often are IRCC processing times updated?
Permanent residency and citizenship timelines are updated monthly, while PR card applications and temporary resident applications such as work permits, study permits, and visitor visas are updated weekly.
Are IRCC processing times guaranteed?
No. These are estimates based on past cases, and actual timelines may vary depending on country of residence, screening requirements, completeness of documents, and IRCC’s workload.
Why do Quebec sponsorship applications take longer?
Quebec requires a separate provincial approval step, which adds additional processing time on top of the federal review.
What are the current citizenship processing times?
As of December 9, 2025, citizenship grants take approximately 13 months, and citizenship certificates take around 9 months.
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