Canada Updates Wait Times For Temporary Residence Applications
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released updated wait-time estimates for temporary residence applications as of August 26.
The latest update shows some changes for work permits, study permits, visitor visas, and Super visas. The biggest changes include shorter work permit waits for applicants in Pakistan and the Philippines, a longer study permit wait for applicants in India, and shorter Super visa waits for applicants in Pakistan and the United States.
The next IRCC update is expected around September 2, 2026.
Work Permit
Applicants in Pakistan and the Philippines saw their work permit wait times improve by one week. The Philippines now has its shortest wait in at least three months.
| Applying From: | Current (August 26) | Previous (August 19) |
| Canada | 115 days | 117 days |
| India | 9 weeks | 9 weeks |
| Pakistan | 8 weeks | 7 weeks |
| Nigeria | 9 weeks | 9 weeks |
| United States | 2 weeks | 2 weeks |
| Philippines | 5 weeks | 6 weeks |
Service standard:
- In-Canada submissions (initial and extensions): 120 days
- Outside Canada submissions: 60 days
The figures show that applications submitted from Canada continue to have a longer expected wait than the standard target. Wait times for India, Nigeria, and the United States did not change in the latest update.
Study Permit
India was the only featured country with a change in study permit wait time. The wait increased by two weeks, following two months without a change.
| Applying From: | Current (August 26) | Previous (August 19) |
| Canada | 7 weeks | 7 weeks |
| India | 7 weeks | 5 weeks |
| Pakistan | 7 weeks | 7 weeks |
| Nigeria | 9 weeks | 9 weeks |
| United States | 5 weeks | 5 weeks |
| Philippines | 4 weeks | 4 weeks |
Service standard:
- In-Canada submissions (initial and extensions): 120 days
- Outside Canada submissions: 60 days
Study permit wait times stayed unchanged for applicants in Canada, Pakistan, Nigeria, the United States, and the Philippines.
Visitor Visa
Visitor visa wait times showed only small changes in the latest update. Applicants in the Philippines saw a one-day improvement, while India, Pakistan, and Nigeria saw small increases.
| Applying From: | Current (August 26) | Previous (August 19) |
| Canada | 12 days | 12 days |
| India | 32 days | 31 days |
| Pakistan | 77 days | 75 days |
| Nigeria | 78 days | 76 days |
| United States | 21 days | 21 days |
| Philippines | 20 days | 21 days |
Service standard:
- In-Canada submissions: N/A
- Outside Canada submissions: 14 days
Applicants from Pakistan and Nigeria continue to have the longest listed visitor visa waits among the countries shown.
Super Visa
Super visa applicants in Pakistan and the United States saw the biggest improvements in the latest update. Wait times fell by two weeks or more for both countries.
| Applying From: | Current (August 26) | Previous (August 19) |
| India | 61 days | 56 days |
| Pakistan | 162 days | 176 days |
| Nigeria | 55 days | 53 days |
| United States | 123 days | 138 days |
| Philippines | 104 days | 107 days |
Service standard: 112 days
Note: Super visa applications can only be submitted from outside Canada.
Despite the improvement, applicants in Pakistan and the United States still have expected waits above the service standard.
How IRCC Wait-Time Estimates Work?
IRCC wait-time estimates are meant to give applicants an idea of how long a newly submitted application may take. They are not fixed deadlines or guarantees.
The department uses two main types of estimates:
- Historical estimates: based on how long it took IRCC to finalize 80% of applications completed in the past; and
- Forward-looking estimates: based on the number of applications waiting to be reviewed and the resources available to process them.
On the other hand, service standards are different. They are targets set by IRCC for how quickly the department aims to complete certain applications under normal conditions in 80% of cases.
Actual wait times can be different from the published estimates. Application complexity, the number of applications in the system, available staff, requests for more documents, and additional checks can all affect the final decision time.
IRCC updates temporary residence wait-time estimates each week. Estimates for permanent residence and citizenship applications are generally updated once a month.
IRCC finalized 1,566,455 temporary residence applications during the first six months of 2026. More than 401,000 applications were still in the inventory at the end of June.
The latest update shows that wait times continue to vary based on the type of application and the country where the application is submitted. Applicants are therefore advised to use the latest IRCC estimates as a general guide rather than a guaranteed date for a decision.
Palina Immigration Consultancy, a Canadian immigration leader, promises excellence and tailored pathways for your Canadian journey. Get in touch with us at Palinaimmigration.com.
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