Last Updated On 5 April 2025, 9:04 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated the latest processing times as of March 25, 2025, and there are major changes.

Whether you’re applying for a visa, permanent residency, or citizenship, staying informed about these timelines is crucial for planning your immigration journey.

We’ve compiled the latest data, including comparisons with previous updates, to help you understand how long your application might take.

Since 2021, we (INC – Immigration News Canada) have diligently tracked IRCC processing times, delivering timely updates to our readers.

In 2022, the IRCC revamped its processing tool to reflect realistic timelines based on actual data, moving beyond static service standards. This shift ensures applicants get a clearer picture of what to expect.

While IRCC previously refreshed these figures weekly, they now provide monthly updates for citizenship, permanent residency, and family sponsorship applications.

For permanent residency and citizenship applications, processing times now reflect the duration for 80% of cases.

Permanent resident cards and temporary residence visa timelines are being updated on a weekly basis.

These updates factor in application volumes and IRCC’s operational capacity, offering a dynamic view of processing durations.

Important Note: These timelines are estimates, not guarantees. Your application’s processing time may vary depending on individual circumstances, even if 80% of cases align with the stated durations.

Below, explore the latest IRCC processing times across categories like PR cards, citizenship, family sponsorship, passports, economic-class permanent residency, and temporary resident visas.

Citizenship and PR Cards Processing Times (Updated monthly and weekly)

Application Type	Current Processing Time (March 4, 2025)	Change Since Last Update
Citizenship Grant	9 months	Increases by 1 month
Citizenship Certificate*	4 months	Increases by 1 month
Resumption of Citizenship	Not enough data	No Change
Renunciation of Citizenship	10 months	Reduces by 2 months
Search of Citizenship Records	16 months	No Change
New PR Card	16 days	Reduces by 8 days
PR Card Renewals	14 days	Reduces by 1 day

*Note: Citizenship certificate delays may occur for requests from outside Canada and the U.S.

Citizenship Update: IRCC is currently issuing Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) letters/emails to applicants who submitted citizenship applications (paper or online) around February 28, 2025.

Family Sponsorship Processing Times (Updated monthly)

Application Type	Current Processing Time (March 4, 2025)	Change Since Last Update
Spouse/Common-Law (Outside Canada, excluding Quebec)	11 months	Increases by 1 month
Spouse/Common-Law (Outside Canada, for Quebec)	35 months	Reduces by 1 month
Spouse/Common-Law (Inside Canada, Non-Quebec)	24 months	Reduces by 4 months
Spouse/Common-Law (Inside Canada, for Quebec)	35 months	Increases by 1 month
Parents/Grandparents PR (Non-Quebec)	33 months	Reduces by 1 month
Parents/Grandparents PR (Quebec)	48 months	No Change

Key Insight: Quebec-specific timelines differ from the rest of Canada, reflecting regional processing variations.

Canadian Passport Processing Times

Application Type	Current Processing Time (March 4, 2025)	Change From Last update
In-Canada New Passport (In-Person, Regular)	10 business days	No Change
In-Canada New Passport (Mail, Regular)	20 business days	No Change
In-Canada Urgent Pick-Up	By end of next business day	No Change
In-Canada Express Pick-Up	2 to 9 business days	No Change
Regular Passport (Mailed from Outside Canada)	20 business days	No Change

Permanent Residency Economic Class (Updated Monthly)

Application Type	Current Processing Time (March 4, 2025)	Change Since Last Update
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)	5 months	No Change
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)	5 months	Reduces by 1 month
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)*	Not enough data	No Change
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) via Express Entry	7 months	Increases by 1 month
Non-Express Entry PNP	21 months	No change
Quebec Skilled Workers (QSW)	9 months	No Change
Quebec Business Class (Entrepreneurs/Investors/Self-Employed)	71 months	No Change
Federal Self-Employed	49 months	No Change
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)	10 months	Increases by 1 month
Start-Up Visa	40 months	No Change

Temporary Resident Visas Processing Times (Updated Weekly)

1. Visitor Visa from outside Canada vary by country

Country	Current Processing Time (March 25, 2025)	Change since last update
India	61 days	Reduces by 22 days
United States	19 days	Reduces by 1 day
Nigeria	127 days	Reduces by 5 days
Pakistan	17 days	No Change
Philippines	15 days	Increases by 1 day

2. Visitor Visa (Inside Canada): 15 days (No change)

3. Visitor extension (Visitor record): 125 days (increases by 6 days)

4. Super Visa (parents and grandparents) varies by country

Country	Current Processing Time (March 25, 2025)	Change since last update
India	135 days	increases by 2 days
United States	165 days	reduces by 76 days
Nigeria	35 days	reduces by 5 days
Pakistan	116 days	reduces by 2 days
Philippines	115 days	Reduces by 4 days

5. Study Permit from outside Canada vary by country

Country	Current Processing Time (March 25, 2025)	Change since last update
India	14 weeks	reduces by 1 week
United States	7 weeks	increases by 2 weeks
Nigeria	6 weeks	reduces by 1 week
Pakistan	8 weeks	No Change
Philippines	5 weeks	No Change

6. Study Permit from inside Canada: 3 weeks (No Change)

7. Study Permit Extension: 116 days (increases by 2 days)

8. Work permits from outside Canada vary by country:

Country	Current Processing Time (March 25, 2025)	Change since last update
India	19 weeks	Reduces by 1 week
United States	81 weeks	No Change
Nigeria	15 weeks	No Change
Pakistan	9 weeks	increases by 1 week
Philippines	5 weeks	No Change

9. Work permit from inside Canada (initial and extension): 115 days (increases by 4 days).

10. Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP): 13 days (increases by 1 day)

11. International Experience Canada (IEC): Current season: 3 weeks (increases by 1 week)

12. Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): 5 minutes, but don’t wait until the last minute to apply. As per IRCC, “Some applications need more time to be processed. In these cases, you will receive an email within 72 hours with next steps.”

Why These IRCC Processing Times Matter in 2025

Understanding IRCC processing times is essential for anyone navigating Canada’s immigration system.

Whether you’re reuniting with family, seeking work, or pursuing citizenship, these timelines help set realistic expectations.

With monthly updates and data-driven insights, IRCC’s tool offers transparency into application processing trends as of March 2025.

Stay ahead by saving and sharing this page for the latest updates!

Share this guide with friends or family planning their Canadian journey, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Source: IRCC Official Processing Times

Satinder Bains

Satinder brings expertise, knowledge, and experience related to internal work flows at IRCC. She worked at Canadian Consulate in Chandigarh before moving to Canada. Her articles on “Chinook – An internal IRCC tool used to bulk process temporary applications” was one of the notable work on our news website