Canada Visa Wait

Permanent residence · Refugees and humanitarian

Privately sponsored refugees processing time

Permanent residence for refugees resettled with a private sponsor.

Estimated wait for a new application

about40 months

● About the same as in July

IRCC estimate, update of October 9, 2026. Check IRCC's tool

Already waiting

about 71,000 people

▼ 2,600 fewer waiting than in July

If you apply today

A new application sent today would be decided around February 2030, if IRCC's estimate holds.

Already applied?

Choose the month you applied. IRCC estimates how many people are ahead of you and how much time is left.

People ahead of you–
Time left–
See every month in a table
Applied inPeople ahead of youTime left
September 2026about 71,00039 months left
August 2026about 70,50039 months left
July 2026about 69,20038 months left
June 2026about 68,80038 months left
May 2026about 68,20037 months left
April 2026about 67,60037 months left
March 2026about 67,20037 months left
February 2026about 66,70037 months left
January 2026about 66,50036 months left
December 2025about 66,30036 months left
November 2025about 64,60035 months left
October 2025about 63,40035 months left
September 2025about 62,30034 months left
August 2025about 61,40034 months left
July 2025about 60,50033 months left
June 2025about 59,80033 months left
May 2025about 58,90032 months left
April 2025about 57,70031 months left
March 2025about 56,60031 months left
February 2025about 55,90030 months left
January 2025about 55,50030 months left
December 2024about 55,00030 months left
November 2024about 52,00028 months left
October 2024about 48,10026 months left
September 2024about 44,80024 months left
August 2024about 42,20023 months left
July 2024about 39,40022 months left
June 2024about 36,90020 months left
May 2024about 35,10019 months left
April 2024about 33,20018 months left
March 2024about 31,60018 months left
February 2024about 30,20017 months left
January 2024about 28,80016 months left
December 2023about 27,80016 months left
November 2023about 23,40013 months left
October 2023about 21,10012 months left
September 2023about 19,10011 months left
August 2023about 17,30010 months left
July 2023about 15,6009 months left
June 2023about 13,9008 months left
May 2023about 12,5008 months left
April 2023about 11,3007 months left
March 2023about 10,5007 months left
February 2023about 9,7006 months left
January 2023about 8,9006 months left
December 2022about 8,3006 months left
November 2022about 6,9005 months left
October 2022about 6,2005 months left
September 2022about 5,500IRCC says it needs more time
August 2022about 5,1004 months left
July 2022about 4,6004 months left
June 2022about 4,200IRCC says it needs more time
May 2022about 4,0003 months left
April 2022about 3,800IRCC says it needs more time
March 2022about 3,700IRCC says it needs more time
February 2022about 3,600IRCC says it needs more time
January 2022about 3,500IRCC says it needs more time
December 2021about 3,300IRCC says it needs more time
November 2021about 3,000IRCC says it needs more time
October 2021about 2,800IRCC says it needs more time
September 2021about 2,600IRCC says it needs more time
August 2021about 2,400IRCC says it needs more time
July 2021about 2,200IRCC says it needs more time
June 2021about 2,100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2021about 1,900IRCC says it needs more time
April 2021about 1,800IRCC says it needs more time
March 2021about 1,600IRCC says it needs more time
February 2021about 1,500IRCC says it needs more time
January 2021about 1,400IRCC says it needs more time
December 2020about 1,300IRCC says it needs more time
November 2020about 1,100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2020about 900IRCC says it needs more time
September 2020about 800IRCC says it needs more time
August 2020about 700IRCC says it needs more time
July 2020about 700IRCC says it needs more time
June 2020about 700IRCC says it needs more time
May 2020about 600IRCC says it needs more time
April 2020about 600IRCC says it needs more time
March 2020about 600IRCC says it needs more time
February 2020about 500IRCC says it needs more time
January 2020about 500IRCC says it needs more time
December 2019about 500IRCC says it needs more time
November 2019about 400IRCC says it needs more time
October 2019about 400IRCC says it needs more time
September 2019about 300IRCC says it needs more time
August 2019about 300IRCC says it needs more time
July 2019about 300IRCC says it needs more time
June 2019about 200IRCC says it needs more time
May 2019about 200IRCC says it needs more time
April 2019about 200IRCC says it needs more time
March 2019about 200IRCC says it needs more time
February 2019about 200IRCC says it needs more time
January 2019about 200IRCC says it needs more time
December 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
November 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
October 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
September 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
August 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time

Estimated wait for a new application

about54 months

● About the same as in July

IRCC estimate, update of October 9, 2026. Check IRCC's tool

Already waiting

about 2,200 people

▼ 100 fewer waiting than in July

If you apply today

A new application sent today would be decided around April 2031, if IRCC's estimate holds.

Already applied?

Choose the month you applied. IRCC estimates how many people are ahead of you and how much time is left.

People ahead of you–
Time left–
See every month in a table
Applied inPeople ahead of youTime left
September 2026about 2,20052 months left
August 2026about 2,20052 months left
July 2026about 2,20051 months left
June 2026about 2,10051 months left
May 2026about 2,10051 months left
April 2026about 2,10050 months left
March 2026about 2,10050 months left
February 2026about 2,10049 months left
January 2026about 2,00049 months left
December 2025about 2,00048 months left
November 2025about 1,90046 months left
October 2025about 1,90046 months left
September 2025about 1,80044 months left
August 2025about 1,70042 months left
July 2025about 1,60040 months left
June 2025about 1,50039 months left
May 2025about 1,50038 months left
April 2025about 1,50037 months left
March 2025about 1,40036 months left
February 2025about 1,40036 months left
January 2025about 1,40035 months left
December 2024about 1,30034 months left
November 2024about 1,30033 months left
October 2024about 1,20033 months left
September 2024about 1,20032 months left
August 2024about 1,10031 months left
July 2024about 1,10030 months left
June 2024about 1,00029 months left
May 2024about 1,00028 months left
April 2024about 90027 months left
March 2024about 90026 months left
February 2024about 90025 months left
January 2024about 80023 months left
December 2023about 70020 months left
November 2023about 60018 months left
October 2023about 50016 months left
September 2023about 50014 months left
August 2023about 50014 months left
July 2023about 40013 months left
June 2023about 40013 months left
May 2023about 40013 months left
April 2023about 40013 months left
March 2023about 400IRCC says it needs more time
February 2023about 40013 months left
January 2023about 40012 months left
December 2022about 40012 months left
November 2022about 400IRCC says it needs more time
October 2022about 400IRCC says it needs more time
September 2022about 400IRCC says it needs more time
August 2022about 40012 months left
July 2022about 40012 months left
June 2022about 400IRCC says it needs more time
May 2022about 40012 months left
April 2022about 40012 months left
March 2022about 400IRCC says it needs more time
February 2022about 400IRCC says it needs more time
January 2022about 400IRCC says it needs more time
December 2021about 400IRCC says it needs more time
November 2021about 400IRCC says it needs more time
October 2021about 40012 months left
September 2021about 400IRCC says it needs more time
August 2021about 400IRCC says it needs more time
July 2021about 400IRCC says it needs more time
June 2021about 400IRCC says it needs more time
May 2021about 40012 months left
April 2021about 400IRCC says it needs more time
March 2021about 300IRCC says it needs more time
February 2021about 300IRCC says it needs more time
January 2021about 300IRCC says it needs more time
December 2020about 30011 months left
November 2020about 300IRCC says it needs more time
October 2020about 300IRCC says it needs more time
September 2020about 300IRCC says it needs more time
August 2020about 30011 months left
July 2020about 300IRCC says it needs more time
June 2020about 300IRCC says it needs more time
May 2020about 300IRCC says it needs more time
April 2020about 300IRCC says it needs more time
March 2020about 300IRCC says it needs more time
February 2020about 300IRCC says it needs more time
January 2020about 300IRCC says it needs more time
December 2019about 300IRCC says it needs more time
November 2019about 300IRCC says it needs more time
October 2019about 3009 months left
September 2019about 300IRCC says it needs more time
August 2019about 3009 months left
July 2019about 3009 months left
June 2019about 300IRCC says it needs more time
May 2019about 300IRCC says it needs more time
April 2019about 2007 months left
March 2019about 200IRCC says it needs more time
February 2019about 200IRCC says it needs more time
January 2019about 200IRCC says it needs more time
December 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
November 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
October 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
September 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
August 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
July 2018about 2006 months left
June 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
May 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
April 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
March 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
February 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
January 2018about 2006 months left
December 2017about 200IRCC says it needs more time
November 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time

Quebec selects some immigrants itself, so IRCC publishes separate figures for people who will live in Quebec.

In plain English

  • IRCC estimates a new application would take about 40 months for people who will live outside Quebec.
  • About 71,000 people are already waiting for a decision (outside Quebec).
  • The estimate is about the same as in July.
  • In Quebec the estimate is about 54 months, with about 2,200 people waiting.

How the estimate has changed

Each point is an IRCC update.

More in Refugees and humanitarian

All programs
Humanitarian and compassionate casesmore than 10 yearsabout 58,800 waiting · Quebec: more than 10 years● SteadyProtected persons in Canadaabout 13 monthsabout 77,600 waiting · Quebec: more than 10 years● SteadyDependants of protected personsabout 41 monthsabout 60,400 waiting · Quebec: more than 10 years● SteadyGovernment-assisted refugeesabout 14 monthsabout 17,900 waiting · Quebec: about 9 months● Steady

What does this estimate mean?

1

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.

2

“Waiting” is IRCC's own count

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

3

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 a privately sponsored refugee case take?

IRCC's latest estimate, from October 9, 2026, is about 40 months for a new application for people who will live outside Quebec. For people who will live in Quebec it is about 54 months.

How many people are waiting?

About 71,000 people are waiting (outside Quebec), by IRCC's count of October 9, 2026.

I already applied. How long is left for me?

IRCC estimates how many people are ahead of you and how much time is left, by the month you applied. Choose your month in the “Already applied?” box above.

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.

All published figures

Outside Quebec

Every published estimate
IRCC updateFigureChange
August 10, 2026about 40 months−1 month
June 8, 2026about 41 months−1 month
May 12, 2026about 42 months−1 month
April 7, 2026about 43 months−3 months
March 9, 2026about 46 months−1 month
February 12, 2026about 47 months−2 months
January 14, 2026about 49 months−3 months
December 9, 2025about 52 months+1 month
November 6, 2025about 51 months−9 months
October 9, 2025about 60 monthsfirst figure
Every published count of people waiting
IRCC updateFigureChange
October 9, 2026about 71,000−1,200
September 3, 2026about 72,200+200
August 10, 2026about 72,000−1,600
July 7, 2026about 73,600−2,600
May 12, 2026about 76,200−2,300
April 7, 2026about 78,500−2,100
March 9, 2026about 80,600−2,500
February 12, 2026about 83,100−2,100
January 14, 2026about 85,200+1,000
December 9, 2025about 84,200−400
November 6, 2025about 84,600−3,400
October 9, 2025about 88,000–

Quebec

Every published estimate
IRCC updateFigureChange
August 10, 2026about 54 months−1 month
July 7, 2026about 55 months+1 month
April 7, 2026about 54 months+6 months
February 12, 2026about 48 months−1 month
December 9, 2025about 49 months+3 months
November 6, 2025about 46 months−20 months
October 9, 2025about 66 monthsfirst figure
Every published count of people waiting
IRCC updateFigureChange
October 9, 2026about 2,200−100
January 14, 2026about 2,300−100
November 6, 2025about 2,400−100
October 9, 2025about 2,500–

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