Major Update: IRCC Unveils Revised Processing Times as of March 2025

The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released its latest processing times update, effective March 12, 2025. This update introduces significant shifts across a range of application categories—from citizenship and permanent residency to family sponsorship, passports, and temporary resident visas. For anyone navigating the immigration system or planning a trip to Canada, these new timelines are essential to manage expectations and plan accordingly.

Since 2021, Immigration News Canada has closely tracked these processing times, ensuring that individuals receive timely, data-driven information. In 2022, the IRCC transitioned from static service standards to a dynamic tool reflecting actual processing data. As a result, updates for citizenship, permanent residency, and family sponsorship applications are now provided monthly, while permanent resident cards and temporary residence visas are refreshed weekly to reflect current operational realities.

Citizenship and PR Cards Processing Times

The following table summarizes the updated processing times for key citizenship and PR card applications (data as of March 4, 2025):

Application Type	Current Processing Time	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: Processing delays for citizenship certificates may be experienced for requests originating from outside Canada and the U.S.

Family Sponsorship Processing Times

Family reunification remains a priority. Below are the current processing times for family sponsorship applications, updated as of March 4, 2025:

Application Type	Current Processing Time	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: Canadian immigration processing in Quebec shows notable deviations from the rest of the country, emphasizing regional differences.

Canadian Passport Processing Times

Here are the current processing benchmarks for Canadian passport applications (data as of March 4, 2025):

Application Type	Current Processing Time	Change
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 the 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

For applicants seeking permanent residency via economic class pathways, below is the detailed breakdown (data as of March 4, 2025):

Application Type	Current Processing Time	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

*Note: Sufficient data is not available yet to establish a trend for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

Temporary Resident Visas & Other Permits

Temporary resident visa (TRV) processing times vary by country and application type. Below is an overview of visitor visa timings for applications submitted from outside Canada (data as of March 12, 2025):

Visitor Visa (Outside Canada)

Country	Current Processing Time	Change
India	96 days	Reduces by 9 days
United States	20 days	Reduces by 2 days
Nigeria	141 days	Reduces by 4 days
Pakistan	16 days	No Change
Philippines	14 days	No Change

For visitor visa applications processed within Canada, the updated timeline is now 16 days—a reduction of 2 days compared to previous estimates. Visitor extensions remain at 116 days.

Super Visa for Parents and Grandparents

Country	Current Processing Time	Change
India	127 days	Increases by 2 days
United States	262 days	Increases by 16 days
Nigeria	36 days	Reduces by 5 days
Pakistan	88 days	Reduces by 18 days
Philippines	14 days	Reduces by 9 days

Additional processing times for study and work permits also differ by country. For instance, study permits from outside Canada remain largely consistent, with Indian applicants waiting around 15 weeks, while work permit processing shows minor fluctuations. Applications for in-Canada work permits and extensions have experienced slight improvements, now averaging 112 days.

Finally, Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) applications are typically processed within 5 minutes. However, applicants are advised not to delay their submission as complex cases may require additional review.

Why These Updated Times Matter

Keeping abreast of the latest IRCC processing times is essential for anyone engaging with Canada's immigration system. Whether reuniting with family, pursuing employment opportunities, or applying for citizenship, these updated timelines are crucial for setting realistic expectations and planning your next steps.

The IRCC's commitment to transparency through monthly and weekly updates—coupled with data reflecting the actual experiences of about 80% of cases—offers applicants clearer insight into the processing landscape. It’s important to remember that while these estimates serve as a guide, individual circumstances may cause variations in processing duration.

As operational trends and application volumes shift, staying informed is the key to navigating the complex world of Canadian immigration. Future updates will continue to reveal emerging trends, including regional disparities that could impact processing times across different provinces.

Looking Ahead: While the current update provides a comprehensive snapshot of the processing timelines as of March 2025, the evolving nature of immigration policies and operational dynamics in Canada means that future changes are always possible. Subsequent updates will provide further insights into how these timelines may shift as global and local conditions change.

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