Permanent residence

Canada permanent residence processing times

IRCC's estimates for new permanent residence applications, and how many people are already waiting. Choose a program for the details, including IRCC's estimate if you have already applied.

Express Entry

Canadian Experience Classabout 6 monthsabout 53,900 waiting● Steady Federal Skilled Workerabout 7 monthsabout 58,300 waiting● Steady Provincial Nominee Program (Express Entry)about 7 monthsabout 13,100 waiting● Steady Federal Skilled TradesNo current figure

Family sponsorship

Where IRCC publishes separate Quebec figures, the main figure is for people who will live outside Quebec.

Spousal sponsorship, inland (partner in Canada)about 26 monthsabout 55,600 waiting · Quebec: about 32 months● Steady Spousal sponsorship, outland (partner outside Canada)about 18 monthsabout 65,600 waiting · Quebec: about 33 months● Steady Parents and grandparents sponsorshipabout 28 monthsabout 35,600 waiting · Quebec: about 63 months● Steady

Provinces and Quebec

Provincial Nominee Program (outside Express Entry)about 13 monthsabout 96,500 waiting▲ 1 month longer Atlantic Immigration Programabout 26 monthsabout 11,500 waiting● Steady Quebec skilled workers11 monthsabout 20,500 waiting● Steady Quebec business immigrationabout 75 monthsabout 3,600 waiting● Steady

Business and caregivers

Start-up Visamore than 10 yearsabout 47,500 waiting● Steady Self-employed personsmore than 10 yearsabout 8,000 waiting● Steady Caregiversabout 77 monthsabout 36,400 waiting● Steady

Refugees and humanitarian

Humanitarian and compassionate casesmore than 10 yearsabout 58,800 waiting · Quebec: more than 10 years● Steady Protected persons in Canadaabout 13 monthsabout 77,600 waiting · Quebec: more than 10 years● Steady Dependants of protected personsabout 41 monthsabout 60,400 waiting · Quebec: more than 10 years● Steady Government-assisted refugeesabout 14 monthsabout 17,900 waiting · Quebec: about 9 months● Steady Privately sponsored refugeesabout 40 monthsabout 71,000 waiting · Quebec: about 54 months● Steady

What do these estimates mean?

It looks ahead

IRCC estimates how long a new application would take, based on how many people are already waiting and how many decisions it plans to make.

“Waiting” is IRCC's own count

The number of people waiting is IRCC's rounded count of applications in the queue.

Already applied?

IRCC also estimates how many people are ahead of you and how much time is left, by when you applied.

Common questions

How long does Express Entry take?

It depends on the program. IRCC's estimates for a new application, from October 9, 2026: Canadian Experience Class about 6 months; Federal Skilled Worker about 7 months; Provincial Nominee Program about 7 months.

How long does spousal sponsorship take?

For a partner living in Canada (inland), IRCC estimates about 26 months. For a partner living outside Canada (outland), about 18 months. Both are for people who will live outside Quebec.

How long does parents and grandparents sponsorship take?

IRCC estimates about 28 months for a new application from people who will live outside Quebec.

Is this an official government website?

No. Canada Visa Wait is an independent site and is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. The figures are IRCC's own. Before you rely on a date, check IRCC's official processing-times tool.