Last Updated On 23 July 2026, 2:54 PM EDT (Toronto Time)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released its latest processing time data on July 22, 2026, and this update is dominated by a continuing surge in citizenship certificate backlogs alongside meaningful improvement in several permanent residency streams.
Citizenship certificate processing has now reached 19 months, with an additional 17,500 applicants joining the queue since the last reporting cycle.
That makes it the third consecutive month of sharp increases in this category after the figure sat at just three months as recently as March 2026.
On the positive side, citizenship grant timelines improved for the first time in several months, dropping to 12 months as the queue contracted slightly by 200 applicants.
Parents and grandparents sponsorship outside Quebec delivered the strongest family class improvement at 30 months, two months faster than the June update.
The Canadian Experience Class dropped to six months; non-Express Entry PNP fell to 12 months; and inland work permits continued their dramatic decline, reaching 129 days.
IRCC calculates these timelines using actual applicant outcomes, reporting the window within which 80% of applicants received a decision.
Monthly categories like citizenship, permanent residency, and family sponsorship were refreshed on July 7.
Weekly categories like visitor visas, study permits, work permits, and PR cards were last updated on July 22.
Temporary residence processing times are updated by the IRCC on a weekly basis, so check back regularly, as we will update this article with the latest weekly data as it becomes available.
The July data arrives alongside a continued Express Entry draw cluster that began on July 6 with a PNP round and continued on July 7 with a CEC draw issuing 2,000 invitations.
Applicants who submit incomplete documentation remain one of the leading refusal reasons across all IRCC categories, making thorough preparation essential during these processing windows.
Below is a full breakdown of every processing time in the July 2026 release.
Table of Contents
Citizenship Processing Times (Updated monthly)
| Application Type | People Waiting (Change) | Processing Time (July 7, 2026) | Change Since June 2, 2026 | Change Since May 12, 2026 | Change Since April 7, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship grant | ~326,200 (-200) | 12 months | -1 month | -1 month | No change |
| Citizenship certificate* | ~99,500 (+17,500) | 19 months | +4 months | +7 months | +6 months |
| Resumption of citizenship | Not available | Not enough data | No change | No change | No change |
| Renunciation of citizenship | Not available | 7 months | No change | No change | -3 months |
| Search of citizenship records | Not available | 17 months | No change | No change | No change |
IRCC is currently sending acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) notices for citizenship applications that were submitted on or around March 19, 2026.
* Applicants residing outside Canada or the United States may face longer processing windows.
Permanent Resident Card Processing Times (Updated weekly)
| Application Type | Processing Time (July 22, 2026) | Change Since Last Week | Change Since March 31 | Change Since January 21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New PR card | 41 days | +2 days | -10 days | -21 days |
| PR card renewal | 40 days | +3 days | +13 days | +9 days |
Family Sponsorship Processing Times (Updated monthly)
| Category | People Waiting (Change) | Processing Time (July 7, 2026) | Change Since June 2, 2026 | Change Since May 12, 2026 | Change Since April 7, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse/common-law outside Canada (non-Quebec) | ~54,100 (+2,800) | 17 months | +1 month | +1 month | +2 months |
| Spouse/common-law outside Canada (Quebec) | ~18,600 (No change) | 33 months | No change | +1 month | +1 month, but -2 months since March 2026 |
| Spouse/common-law inside Canada (non-Quebec) | ~56,900 (+1,700) | 27 months | +1 month | +2 months | +3 months |
| Spouse/common-law inside Canada (Quebec) | ~13,700 (+600) | 32 months | No change | +1 month | +1 month |
| Parents/grandparents (non-Quebec) | ~40,400 (-3,100) | 30 months | -2 months | -3 months | -4 months |
| Parents/grandparents (Quebec) | ~10,500 (-500) | 65 months | -2 months | -1 month | -2 months |
Humanitarian and Compassionate And Protected Persons (Updated monthly)
| Category | People Waiting (Change) | Processing Time (July 7, 2026) | Change Since June 2, 2026 | Change Since May 12, 2026 | Change Since April 7, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H&C outside Quebec | ~54,500 (+1,500) | More than 10 years | No change | No change | No change |
| H&C in Quebec | ~19,700 (+600) | More than 10 years | No change | No change | No change |
| Protected persons inside Canada (outside Quebec) | ~98,300 (-5,800) | About 14 months | -1 month | -1 month | -2 months |
| Protected persons inside Canada (in Quebec) | ~40,900 (+1,900) | More than 120 months | +1 month | +3 months | +6 months |
| Dependents of protected persons (outside Quebec) | ~60,800 (+1,500) | About 38 months | +3 months | +6 months | +6 months |
| Dependents of protected persons (in Quebec) | ~22,100 (+600) | More than 10 years | No change | No change | No change |
Canadian Passport Processing Times
| Application Type | Current Processing Time | Change |
|---|---|---|
| New passport (in person, Canada) | 10 business days | No change |
| New passport (mail, Canada) | 20 business days | No change |
| Urgent pickup | Next business day | No change |
| Express pickup | 2–9 business days | No change |
| Passport mailed from outside Canada | 20 business days | No change |
Permanent Residency Processing Times (Updated monthly)
| Category | People Waiting (Change) | Processing Time (July 7, 2026) | Change Since June 2, 2026 | Change Since May 12, 2026 | Change Since April 7, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | ~61,500 (+600) | 6 months | -1 month | -1 month | -1 month |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | ~55,800 (+3,800) | 7 months | No change | No change | +1 month |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) | Not available | Not enough data | No change | No change | No change |
| PNP (Express Entry) | ~12,100 (-1,900) | 7 months | +1 month | No change | +1 month |
| Non-Express Entry PNP | ~103,800 (-6,400) | 12 months | -1 month | -2 months | -1 month |
| Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) | ~22,200 (-2,600) | 11 months | No change | No change | No change |
| Quebec Business Class | ~3,700 (No change) | 75 months | -1 month | -3 months | -3 months |
| Federal Self-Employed | ~8,100 (No change) | More than 10 years | No change | No change | No change |
| Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) | ~12,300 (-600) | 26 months | No change | -12 months | -5 months |
| Start Up Visa | ~47,500 (+900) | More than 10 years | No change | No change | No change |
Temporary Visa Processing Times (Updated weekly)
IRCC updates temporary residence processing times on a weekly basis, and the figures below reflect data as of July 22, 2026.
The next weekly update is expected on July 29, and this article will be refreshed accordingly, so check back later for the latest numbers.
Visitor Visas From Outside Canada
| Country | Processing Time (July 22, 2026) | Change Since Last Week | Change Since January 28, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 21 days | +1 day | -61 days |
| United States | 27 days | -1 day | +2 days |
| Nigeria | 63 days | +2 days | +23 days |
| Pakistan | 40 days | +1 day | -16 days |
| Philippines | 16 days | -1 day | No change |
Visitor Visa From Inside Canada
Visitor visa applications filed from inside Canada now take 29 days, 5 days lower than last week.
Visitor Record Extension
Visitor record extensions continue to remain high at 214 days, 2 days lower than the last week, but still 53 days higher than January 28, 2026.
Super Visa Processing Times
| Country | Processing Time (July 22, 2026) | Change Since Last Week | Change Since January 28, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 49 days | -1 day | -201 days |
| United States | 124 days | -2 days | -63 days |
| Nigeria | 39 days | +3 days | +1 day |
| Pakistan | 194 days | +7 days | +70 days |
| Philippines | 68 days | -5 days | -41 days |
The super visa timeline for India has dropped by 201 days since January 2026, making it the strongest sustained improvement of any temporary category this year.
Pakistan is the clear outlier, spiking to 194 days, the highest figure for any super visa country in the July data.
Study Permit Processing Times
| Country | Processing Time (July 22, 2026) | Change Since Last Week | Change Since January 28, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 5 weeks | No change | +1 week |
| United States | 5 weeks | No change | -3 weeks |
| Nigeria | 5 weeks | No change | No change |
| Pakistan | 6 weeks | No change | +2 weeks |
| Philippines | 4 weeks | No change | -1 week |
Study Permit From Inside Canada: Inland study permit applications take 7 weeks, no change since last week, but 1 week higher than the June 24 update.
Study Permit Extension: Study permit extensions now take 72 days, 2 days higher than the last week but still 32 days less than January 28, 2026.
Work Permit Processing Times
| Country | Processing Time (July 22, 2026) | Change Since Last Week | Change Since January 28, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 9 weeks | No change | +1 week |
| United States | 3 weeks | No change | -7 weeks |
| Nigeria | 6 weeks | No change | -3 weeks |
| Pakistan | 10 weeks | +3 weeks | -10 weeks |
| Philippines | 7 weeks | +1 week | +1 week |
Work Permit From Inside Canada (Initial and Extension): Inland work permits, including extensions, have dropped to 122 days, 2 days lower than the last week, 84 days fewer than the May 20 update, 130 days below March 31, and 114 days below January 28, 2026.
The sustained decline in this category continues to be one of the most significant positive trends in the 2026 processing data.
Other Work Permit Categories
The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program is now at 47 days, 8 days higher than last week and 36 days higher than the May 20 update.
International Experience Canada (IEC) work permits sit at 6 weeks, no change since the prior weekly update, but 3 weeks above March 31 and one week below December 31, 2025.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) approvals continue to arrive within roughly five minutes for most travellers, with up to 72 hours required for applicants flagged for additional screening.
The July 2026 IRCC processing times show an immigration system making measurable gains in economic and family sponsorship categories while citizenship certificate processing continues to deteriorate at an accelerating pace.
Inland work permits at 122 days, CEC at six months, parents and grandparents sponsorship down four months since April, and super visa timelines near historic lows for India are all positive indicators that IRCC is clearing backlogs in targeted streams.
July also marks the start of a new CRA benefit year with higher indexed payments across most federal programs, adding a financial dimension to the immigration timeline picture for newcomers and permanent residents.
Applicants should file early, submit complete documentation, and check their IRCC portals regularly to stay ahead of any requests that could extend their wait.
For the latest developments on Canadian immigration news, evolving policy landscapes, and IRCC processing times, save this page and return regularly as new weekly and monthly data drops throughout 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why has citizenship certificate processing jumped from 15 months to 19 months in a single update?
IRCC has seen a massive influx of citizenship certificate applications driven largely by the Bill C-3 citizenship by descent provisions that came into effect in December 2025. Thousands of Americans and other foreign nationals with Canadian ancestry have filed applications under the expanded eligibility rules, adding significant volume to a category that was already under strain. The queue grew by 17,500 applicants in the latest cycle alone, reaching approximately 99,500 people. IRCC processes these applications in the order they are received, and the current staffing allocation has not kept pace with the surge in demand. Applicants in this category should expect continued longer timelines until IRCC either increases processing capacity or the initial wave of new applications stabilizes.
How are IRCC processing times calculated, and do they guarantee when I will receive my decision?
IRCC processing times represent the window within which 80% of applicants in a given category received a final decision. They are based on historical outcomes from recently completed applications, not forward projections. This means 20% of applicants will wait longer than the published estimate. Individual timelines depend on factors like the complexity of your file, whether additional security screening is required, the completeness of your documentation, and the specific processing office handling your case. The published figures are useful benchmarks for setting realistic expectations, but they are not guarantees of when any individual applicant will receive a decision.
Why are spousal sponsorship processing times increasing across all four streams?
Spousal sponsorship processing times have been rising steadily throughout 2026 across all four streams, with inside Canada, non-Quebec, now at 27 months and outside Canada, non-Quebec, at 17 months. This upward trend reflects a combination of growing application volumes and IRCC’s resource allocation priorities under the 2026 to 2028 Immigration Levels Plan. The department has been directing processing capacity toward clearing economic class backlogs and temporary residence applications, which has come at the expense of family class throughput. Quebec streams carry additional processing time because applications must also be reviewed by the provincial immigration ministry before federal processing can conclude.
What does implied status mean for applicants waiting for a work permit extension inside Canada?
If you submitted your work permit extension application before your current permit expired, you have what is known as implied status under Canadian immigration law. This means you are legally authorized to continue working under the same conditions as your previous permit while IRCC processes your renewal. Implied status does not produce a new physical document, so you should keep copies of your expired permit, your application confirmation, and your payment receipt as proof of your status. If your original application was not submitted before your permit expired, you do not have implied status and must stop working until new authorization is granted. With inland work permits now processing in 129 days, applicants who filed on time can generally expect a decision within that window.
Can I check which processing office is handling my application to estimate my personal wait time?
IRCC does not publicly disclose which specific processing office is assigned to your application, and the processing times published on the official IRCC tool are national averages rather than office-specific figures. Some applicants can identify their processing office through correspondence received from IRCC, such as acknowledgement of receipt letters or requests for additional documents. However, knowing the office does not change your place in the queue or allow you to request a transfer. If your application has exceeded the published processing time for your category, you can submit a case inquiry through the IRCC web form. For Express Entry applications specifically, the processing office is typically the centralized operations centre, and timelines are more standardized than in other categories.
Fact-check: All processing times, queue figures, and comparison data in this article are sourced directly from the official IRCC processing time tool updated on July 15, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Consult a regulated immigration professional for guidance on your specific case.
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