Last Updated On 4 September 2026, 10:10 AM EDT (Toronto Time)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published its September 2026 processing time data on September 2–3, 2026, and the headline is staggering.
Citizenship certificate processing has now hit 33 months, leaping by eight months in a single reporting cycle, while the queue swelled by 14,200 applicants to approximately 136,000 people.
That figure stood at 10 months in March 2026, meaning this single category has added 23 months of processing time in roughly six months.
On the permanent residency side, the Federal Skilled Worker Program reversed its August improvement, climbing back to seven months after briefly reaching six months for the first time in 2026.
Spousal sponsorship for applicants inside Canada outside Quebec improved to 26 months, down one month, while parents and grandparents sponsorship outside Quebec continued its downward trend to 28 months, marking five consecutive months of decline.
The most notable shift in the weekly data is the Pakistan super visa, which dropped by 37 days in a single week to 139 days, the sharpest single-week decline in any temporary category this month.
Visitor record extensions eased slightly to 410 days from 416 but remain well above the 148-day level recorded on January 28, 2026.
IRCC now uses both forward-looking and historical processing times. Monthly estimates generally project how long a new application could take based on inventory and expected processing capacity, while weekly historical timelines reflect how long IRCC took to finalize most recently processed applications.
Monthly categories like citizenship, permanent residency, and family sponsorship were refreshed on September 3.
Weekly categories like visitor visas, study permits, work permits, and PR cards were last updated on September 2.
The September data lands alongside a busy period for Canadian immigration, including the first Express Entry draw of September that issued 2,000 CEC invitations on September 1 and new immigration and refugee rules taking effect on September 7.
This roundup also includes caregiver processing times for the first time, with the consolidated figure sitting at 76 months and approximately 36,900 applicants waiting for a decision.
Incomplete applications may be delayed or returned, making thorough preparation especially important during lengthy processing periods. Review the common refusal reasons before submitting any application.
Below is a full breakdown of every processing time in the September 2026 release.
Table of Contents
Citizenship Processing Times (Updated Monthly)
| Application Type | People Waiting (Change) | Processing Time (Sept 3, 2026) | Change Since Last Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship grant | ~327,100 (-1,100) | 12 months | No change |
| Citizenship certificate* | ~136,000 (+14,200) | 33 months | +8 months |
| Resumption of citizenship | Not available | Not enough data | No change |
| Renunciation of citizenship | Not available | 4 months | No change |
| Search of citizenship records | Not available | 18 months | +1 month |
The citizenship certificate surge is the defining story of the September release, adding eight months of processing time in a single cycle while the queue grew by 14,200 people.
This category has now risen from 10 months in March to 33 months in September, an increase of 23 months in half a year.
Meanwhile, the citizenship grant queue contracted by 1,100 applicants, the first meaningful decline since April 2026.
Permanent Resident Card Processing Times (Updated Weekly)
| Application Type | Processing Time (Sept 2, 2026) | Change Since Last Week | Change Since January 21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New PR card | 40 days | No change | -22 days |
| PR card renewal | 39 days | -1 day | +10 days |
Family Sponsorship Processing Times (Updated Monthly)
| Category | People Waiting (Change) | Processing Time (Sept 3, 2026) | Change Since Last Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse/common-law inside Canada (non-Quebec) | ~54,700 (-2,100) | 26 months | -1 month |
| Spouse/common-law inside Canada (Quebec) | ~14,200 (+200) | 32 months | No change |
| Spouse/common-law outside Canada (non-Quebec) | ~62,600 (+4,600) | 18 months | +1 month |
| Spouse/common-law outside Canada (Quebec) | ~19,200 (+200) | 33 months | No change |
| Parents/grandparents (non-Quebec) | ~37,500 (-1,500) | 28 months | -1 month |
| Parents/grandparents (Quebec) | ~10,300 (-100) | 63 months | -1 month |
The spousal sponsorship for applicants outside Canada, outside Quebec, rose by one month to 18 months, while the queue added 4,600 applicants, the largest single-month jump in any family sponsorship stream this cycle.
Humanitarian and Compassionate And Protected Persons (Updated Monthly)
| Category | People Waiting (Change) | Processing Time (Sept 3, 2026) | Change Since Last Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| H&C outside Quebec | ~57,900 (+2,100) | More than 10 years | No change |
| H&C in Quebec | ~20,400 (+300) | More than 10 years | No change |
| Protected persons inside Canada (outside Quebec) | ~86,100 (-6,100) | About 13 months | No change |
| Protected persons inside Canada (in Quebec) | ~42,100 (+200) | More than 10 years | No change |
| Dependants of protected persons (outside Quebec) | ~60,900 (+200) | About 41 months | +1 month |
| Dependants of protected persons (in Quebec) | ~22,600 (+200) | More than 10 years | No change |
The protected persons queue outside Quebec shrank by 6,100 applicants for the second consecutive month, matching the August reduction and suggesting IRCC has dedicated sustained processing capacity to this stream.
Permanent Residency Processing Times (Updated Monthly)
| Category | People Waiting (Change) | Processing Time (Sept 3, 2026) | Change Since Last Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | ~58,900 (-800) | 6 months | No change |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | ~53,800 (+1,400) | 7 months | +1 month |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) | Not available | Not enough data | No change |
| PNP (Express Entry) | ~12,800 (+1,000) | 7 months | No change |
| Non-Express Entry PNP | ~101,500 (-900) | 13 months | No change |
| Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) | ~20,400 (-800) | 11 months | No change |
| Quebec Business Class | ~3,700 (No change) | 75 months | No change |
| Federal Self-Employed** | ~8,000 (No change) | More than 10 years | No change |
| Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) | ~11,800 (-300) | 26 months | No change |
| Start-Up Visa** | ~47,500 (-100) | More than 10 years | No change |
The FSWP reversal to seven months, adding one month after reaching six months for the first time in 2026 in August, is a setback for applicants who saw the improvement as a sign of sustained momentum.
The queue also grew by 1,400 applicants to approximately 53,800.
Caregiver Processing Times (Updated Monthly)
IRCC publishes a single consolidated processing time for all caregiver permanent residence programs.
This covers the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots, the Home Child Care Provider Pilot, the Home Support Worker Pilot, the Interim Pathway for Caregivers, the Caring for Children Pilot, and the Live-in Caregiver Program. This is the first time our monthly processing times roundup includes this category.
| Category | People Waiting | Processing Time (Sept 3, 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caregivers: All programs | ~36,900 | 76 months | First time in our roundup |
The 76-month timeline and a queue of approximately 36,900 applicants underscore the depth of the backlog in caregiver permanent residence programs.
Temporary Visa Processing Times (Updated Weekly)
IRCC updates temporary residence processing times on a weekly basis, and the figures below reflect data as of September 2, 2026.
We will update this section as soon as IRCC publishes new weekly data, so check back regularly for the latest numbers.
Visitor Visas From Outside Canada
| Country | Processing Time (Sept 2, 2026) | Change Since Last Week | Change Since January 28, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 31 days | -1 day | -51 days |
| United States | 20 days | -1 day | -5 days |
| Nigeria | 80 days | +2 days | +40 days |
| Pakistan | 78 days | +1 day | +22 days |
| Philippines | 18 days | -2 days | +2 days |
Visitor Visa and Extensions From Inside Canada
| Category | Processing Time (Sept 2, 2026) | Change Since Last Week | Change Since January 28, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor visa (from inside Canada) | 11 days | -1 day | — |
| Visitor record extension | 410 days | -6 days | +262 days |
Visitor record extensions eased to 410 days from 416 last week, but the figure remains 262 days above the January 28 level and nearly double the 214-day reading recorded on July 22, highlighting how sharply this category deteriorated over the summer months.
Super Visa Processing Times
| Country | Processing Time (Sept 2, 2026) | Change Since Last Week | Change Since January 28, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 66 days | +5 days | -184 days |
| United States | 116 days | -7 days | -71 days |
| Nigeria | 52 days | -3 days | +14 days |
| Pakistan | 139 days | -37 days | +1 day |
| Philippines | 93 days | -11 days | -23 days |
The Pakistan super visa plunged by 37 days in a single week, from 176 to 139 days, the largest one-week improvement recorded in any temporary category across the entire September release.
Study Permit Processing Times From Outside Canada
| Country | Processing Time (Sept 2, 2026) | Change Since Last Week | Change Since January 28, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 5 weeks | No change | No change |
| United States | 5 weeks | No change | No change |
| Nigeria | 9 weeks | No change | +4 weeks |
| Pakistan | 7 weeks | No change | +3 weeks |
| Philippines | 4 weeks | No change | -1 week |
Study Permit From Inside Canada and Extensions
| Category | Processing Time (Sept 2, 2026) | Change Since Last Week | Change Since January 28, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study permit (from inside Canada) | 8 weeks | +1 week | — |
| Study permit extension | 64 days | No change | -40 days |
The inland study permit increased by one week to 8 weeks, the first upward movement in this category since the May data.
New study permit proof of funds requirements took effect on September 1, which may affect upcoming application volumes.
Work Permit Processing Times From Outside Canada
| Country | Processing Time (Sept 2, 2026) | Change Since Last Week | Change Since January 28, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 10 weeks | +1 week | +1 week |
| United States | 2 weeks | No change | -1 week |
| Nigeria | 9 weeks | No change | +2 weeks |
| Pakistan | 7 weeks | -1 week | -13 weeks |
| Philippines | 7 weeks | +2 weeks | +1 week |
India work permit processing rose to 10 weeks, the highest level for Indian applicants in this category since the March 2026 data.
The Philippines also climbed sharply, adding two weeks to reach seven weeks.
Work Permit From Inside Canada and Other Categories
| Category | Processing Time (Sept 2, 2026) | Change Since Last Week | Change Since January 28, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work permit from inside Canada (initial and extension) | 113 days | -2 days | -121 days |
| Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) | 101 days | +2 days | — |
| International Experience Canada (IEC) | 6 weeks | No change | — |
| Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) | 5 minutes | No change | No change |
Inland work permits continued their sustained decline at 113 days, now 121 days below the January 28, 2026 level and two days lower than the August 26 update.
The sustained improvement in this category remains one of the most significant positive trends across the entire 2026 processing dataset.
Most eTA applications show a processing time of about 5 minutes. Some applications require additional processing, in which case IRCC says applicants will receive an email within 72 hours with next steps.
The September 2026 IRCC processing times reveal a system delivering targeted improvements in some categories while the citizenship certificate crisis accelerates beyond any prior benchmark.
Inland work permits at 113 days, CEC holding steady at six months, parents and grandparents sponsorship declining for the fifth consecutive month, and the Pakistan super visa plunging by 37 days are all positive indicators that IRCC is clearing backlogs in targeted streams.
However, the 33-month citizenship certificate timeline, the FSWP reversal to seven months, the 410-day visitor record extension, and spousal sponsorship outside Canada adding 4,600 applicants to its queue suggest that capacity constraints are deepening in several high-volume categories, a pattern that has intensified across every monthly release since May.
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 surged to 33 months when it was 10 months in March 2026?
Citizenship certificate processing climbed by eight months in a single reporting cycle to reach 33 months, up from 25 months in August and 10 months in March 2026. Over the same six-month period, the queue grew by approximately 85,100 applicants, from about 50,900 in March to 136,000 in September. The sustained acceleration is largely tied to the volume of applications under the Bill C-3 citizenship-by-descent provisions, which removed the first-generation limit in December 2025 and triggered an unprecedented surge in certificate applications from abroad.
Why did the Federal Skilled Worker Program go back up to 7 months after improving to 6 months in August?
The FSWP processing time returned to seven months in September after briefly dropping to six months in August for the first time in 2026. The queue also grew by 1,400 applicants to approximately 53,800, reversing the August decline of 3,400. This suggests the one-month improvement in August may have reflected a temporary clearing burst rather than a sustained capacity shift, and applicants should expect seven months as the more stable baseline for this stream heading into fall 2026.
What is the caregiver processing time and why is it included in this roundup for the first time?
IRCC publishes a single consolidated processing time for all caregiver permanent residence programs, covering the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots, the Home Child Care Provider Pilot, the Home Support Worker Pilot, the Interim Pathway for Caregivers, the Caring for Children Pilot, and the Live-in Caregiver Program. The combined estimate is 76 months with approximately 36,900 applicants in the queue. This is the first time our monthly processing times roundup includes this category, which is why no month-over-month comparison appears in the table above.
Are visitor record extensions actually starting to come down?
Visitor record extensions dropped to 410 days in the September 2 update, six days lower than the August 26 reading of 416 days. While the weekly decline is the largest in recent updates, the figure remains 262 days above the January 28, 2026, level and nearly double the 214-day reading from July 22. The modest decline suggests IRCC is beginning to chip away at the extension backlog, but a sustained return below 300 days would require multiple consecutive weeks of similar reductions, which has not yet materialized in the 2026 data.
How often does IRCC update processing times and when will the next refresh happen?
IRCC updates temporary residence processing times on a weekly basis, typically releasing new data on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. The figures in this article reflect the September 2 weekly data and the September 3 monthly data. Weekly updates cover visitor visas, study permits, work permits, super visas, electronic travel authorizations, PR cards, and all related subcategories like inland applications and extensions. Monthly categories like citizenship, family sponsorship, humanitarian and compassionate claims, and permanent residency through economic programs are updated once per month and will next be refreshed in October 2026. Save this page and check back regularly to see the latest weekly numbers as they become available.
Fact-checked: All processing times, queue figures, and comparison data in this article are sourced directly from the official IRCC processing time tool updated on September 3, 2026 (monthly categories) and September 2, 2026 (weekly categories).
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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