Latest IRCC Processing Times Update – November 2024: What You Need to Know
November 21, 2024 Amritpal Kaur
November 2024 brings new updates on Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processing times. These updates are essential for anyone navigating the Canadian immigration system, especially with the ongoing backlogs. Knowing the current processing times is crucial for applicants to plan ahead, avoid delays, and make informed decisions about their immigration journey.
IRCC regularly publishes updated processing times for various application categories. These updates come monthly for major categories like citizenship, family sponsorship, and economic immigration, and weekly for more time-sensitive applications, such as PR cards and temporary residency. If you’re in the midst of your application, staying updated will help you manage expectations and better plan your next steps.
Let’s dive into the latest IRCC processing times as of November 2024 across key categories:
Citizenship Processing Times
(Updated Monthly)
If you’ve applied for Canadian citizenship or are planning to, here are the current processing times:
Citizenship Grant: Now 7 months (up 1 month since last update). This is a bit of a jump, so if you were expecting a quicker turnaround, be prepared for some additional wait time.
Citizenship Certificate: Still 4 months (no change). For those applying for a certificate, the process seems relatively steady.
Renunciation of Citizenship: This remains at 16 months (no change). For those renouncing Canadian citizenship, this lengthy process continues unchanged.
Search of Citizenship Records: Reduced to 11 months (down 1 month). If you’ve applied to search citizenship records, this is a slight but welcome reduction.
Citizenship processing can be one of the lengthiest parts of the immigration journey, so it’s good to plan accordingly and avoid expecting an overly quick resolution. The current times reflect some of the backlog IRCC is still working through.
Permanent Resident (PR) Card Processing Times
(Updated Weekly)
New PR Card: 25 days (no change). If you're applying for a new PR card, the process is relatively fast.
PR Card Renewal: 50 days (down 9 days). A small but helpful reduction in time for those renewing their PR cards.
Family Sponsorship Processing Times
(Updated Monthly)
Family sponsorships are critical for those seeking to bring loved ones to Canada. Here are the updated times:
Spouse/Common-Law Partner (Outside Canada, except Quebec): 10 months (no change). This continues to be a standard processing time.
Spouse/Common-Law Partner (Outside Canada for Quebec): 36 months (up 1 month). Unfortunately, for those applying from Quebec, the process has become lengthier.
Spouse/Common-Law Partner (Inside Canada, except Quebec): 12 months (down 1 month). A reduction here is definitely a good sign for applicants in Canada.
Spouse/Common-Law Partner (Inside Canada for Quebec): 27 months (no change). Quebec remains more time-consuming.
Parents/Grandparents (except Quebec): 24 months (no change).
Parents/Grandparents (for Quebec): 48 months (no change). If you’re sponsoring parents or grandparents from Quebec, expect a long wait.
Economic Immigration Processing Times
(Updated Monthly and Weekly)
For those applying through economic immigration streams like Express Entry, here’s the current breakdown:
Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 5 months (no change). This program remains stable.
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): 5 months (no change).
Provincial Nominee Program (Express Entry): 6 months (no change).
Provincial Nominee Program without Express Entry: 13 months (up 1 month). This has gotten a bit longer, so be aware if you're in this stream.
Quebec Skilled Workers (QSW): 11 months (up 2 months). A significant increase, which is something to consider if you’re applying under this program.
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): 8 months (up 1 month). This program is also becoming slightly slower.
Federal Self-Employed Persons: 48 months (no change).
Quebec Business Class: 58 months (up 9 months). If you're looking to apply under the Quebec Business Class, this is quite a lengthy wait.
Start-up Visa: 40 months (no change).
The slight increases in some of the provincial programs, particularly for Quebec, are a bit concerning. If you are considering any of these streams, the extended waiting times might be a good reason to start planning even earlier than expected.
Temporary Residency Processing Times
(Updated Weekly)
Temporary residency applications, like visitor visas and study permits, are often the most time-sensitive for applicants. Here's the breakdown:
Visitor Visa (Outside Canada): Varies by country:
India: 112 days (down 2 days)
United States: 23 days (down 3 days)
Nigeria: 175 days (no change)
Pakistan: 29 days (up 2 days)
Philippines: 17 days (down 2 days)
Visitor Visa (Inside Canada):
Online: 19 days (down 5 days)
Extension: 133 days (down 19 days)
Super Visa:
India: 124 days (up 6 days)
United States: 137 days (no change)
Nigeria: 63 days (up 12 days)
Pakistan: 134 days (up 3 days)
Philippines: 114 days (up 4 days)
Study Permit (Outside Canada):
India: 3 weeks (down 5 weeks)
United States: 14 weeks (no change)
Nigeria: 10 weeks (no change)
Pakistan: 14 weeks (up 2 weeks)
Philippines: 5 weeks (down 1 week)
Work Permit (Outside Canada):
India: 27 weeks (down 1 week)
United States: 15 weeks (up 5 weeks)
Nigeria: 24 weeks (no change)
Pakistan: 18 weeks (down 1 week)
Philippines: 5 weeks (down 3 weeks)
If you’re looking to apply for a study or work permit, you’ll notice that the times for India and the Philippines have fluctuated. This is a good reminder that waiting times for temporary permits can be quite volatile, especially depending on where you’re applying from.
Canada's immigration process is becoming more challenging, whether you're looking to come to Canada or stay here. If you have questions or need help navigating these changes, our team of immigration experts is here for you.
Give us a call at 647-222-6795 or email us at info@zandbimmigration.ca, or amritpal@zandbimmigration.ca. You can also book an appointment directly on our website www.zandbimmigration.ca.
We’re here to help make the immigration process easier for you.