Canada Visa Wait

Permanent residence · Refugees and humanitarian

Protected persons in Canada processing time

For people in Canada who were found to be protected persons, applying for permanent residence.

Estimated wait for a new application

about13 months

● About the same as in July

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

Already waiting

about 77,600 people

▼ 20,700 fewer waiting than in July

If you apply today

A new application sent today would be decided around November 2027, 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 77,60012 months left
August 2026about 74,50011 months left
July 2026about 71,30011 months left
June 2026about 67,80010 months left
May 2026about 64,50010 months left
April 2026about 60,9009 months left
March 2026about 56,9009 months left
February 2026about 52,7008 months left
January 2026about 49,2007 months left
December 2025about 46,0007 months left
November 2025about 42,4007 months left
October 2025about 38,7006 months left
September 2025about 35,0006 months left
August 2025about 31,9005 months left
July 2025about 29,2005 months left
June 2025about 26,7004 months left
May 2025about 25,1004 months left
April 2025about 23,5004 months left
March 2025about 22,0004 months left
February 2025about 20,6004 months left
January 2025about 19,6003 months left
December 2024about 18,6003 months left
November 2024about 17,6003 months left
October 2024about 16,8003 months left
September 2024about 15,9003 months left
August 2024about 15,3003 months left
July 2024about 14,6002 months left
June 2024about 13,7002 months left
May 2024about 12,6002 months left
April 2024about 11,9002 months left
March 2024about 11,1002 months left
February 2024about 10,2002 months left
January 2024about 9,3002 months left
December 2023about 8,5002 months left
November 2023about 7,7002 months left
October 2023about 7,1001 month left
September 2023about 6,4001 month left
August 2023about 5,8001 month left
July 2023about 5,1001 month left
June 2023about 4,6001 month left
May 2023about 4,0001 month left
April 2023about 3,4001 month left
March 2023about 3,1001 month left
February 2023about 2,7001 month left
January 2023about 2,4001 month left
December 2022about 2,1001 month left
November 2022about 1,9001 month left
October 2022about 1,7001 month left
September 2022about 1,500IRCC says it needs more time
August 2022about 1,400IRCC says it needs more time
July 2022about 1,300IRCC says it needs more time
June 2022about 1,200IRCC says it needs more time
May 2022about 1,100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2022about 1,000IRCC says it needs more time
March 2022about 900IRCC says it needs more time
February 2022about 800IRCC says it needs more time
January 2022about 800IRCC says it needs more time
December 2021about 800IRCC says it needs more time
November 2021about 700IRCC says it needs more time
October 2021about 700IRCC says it needs more time
September 2021about 700IRCC says it needs more time
August 2021about 600IRCC says it needs more time
July 2021about 600IRCC says it needs more time
June 2021about 600IRCC says it needs more time
May 2021about 600IRCC says it needs more time
April 2021about 500IRCC says it needs more time
March 2021about 500IRCC says it needs more time
February 2021about 500IRCC says it needs more time
January 2021about 400IRCC says it needs more time
December 2020about 400IRCC says it needs more time
November 2020about 400IRCC says it needs more time
October 2020about 400IRCC says it needs more time
September 2020about 400IRCC says it needs more time
August 2020about 400IRCC says it needs more time
July 2020about 400IRCC says it needs more time
June 2020about 400IRCC says it needs more time
May 2020about 400IRCC 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 300IRCC says it needs more time
September 2019about 300IRCC says it needs more time
August 2019about 300IRCC says it needs more time
July 2019about 200IRCC 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 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2018about 100IRCC 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 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2016about 100IRCC says it needs more time

Estimated wait for a new application

more than10 years

● About the same as in July

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

Already waiting

about 42,600 people

▲ 1,700 more waiting than in July

If you apply today

A new application sent today would be decided around October 2036, 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 42,60010 years left
August 2026about 41,70010 years left
July 2026about 40,70010 years left
June 2026about 39,60010 years left
May 2026about 38,600117 months left
April 2026about 37,400114 months left
March 2026about 36,200110 months left
February 2026about 34,900106 months left
January 2026about 33,900103 months left
December 2025about 33,000100 months left
November 2025about 31,90097 months left
October 2025about 30,80093 months left
September 2025about 29,70090 months left
August 2025about 28,70087 months left
July 2025about 27,80084 months left
June 2025about 26,80081 months left
May 2025about 25,90078 months left
April 2025about 25,00076 months left
March 2025about 24,00073 months left
February 2025about 23,20070 months left
January 2025about 22,40068 months left
December 2024about 21,50065 months left
November 2024about 20,70062 months left
October 2024about 19,90060 months left
September 2024about 19,00057 months left
August 2024about 18,20055 months left
July 2024about 17,40052 months left
June 2024about 16,60050 months left
May 2024about 15,80047 months left
April 2024about 14,90045 months left
March 2024about 14,00042 months left
February 2024about 13,20039 months left
January 2024about 12,40037 months left
December 2023about 11,70035 months left
November 2023about 11,10033 months left
October 2023about 10,50031 months left
September 2023about 9,90029 months left
August 2023about 9,30028 months left
July 2023about 8,60026 months left
June 2023about 7,90024 months left
May 2023about 7,40022 months left
April 2023about 6,70020 months left
March 2023about 6,00019 months left
February 2023about 5,30016 months left
January 2023about 4,80015 months left
December 2022about 4,20013 months left
November 2022about 3,70012 months left
October 2022about 3,20010 months left
September 2022about 2,8009 months left
August 2022about 2,2007 months left
July 2022about 1,8006 months left
June 2022about 1,5005 months left
May 2022about 1,3004 months left
April 2022about 1,1004 months left
March 2022about 1,0004 months left
February 2022about 8003 months left
January 2022about 6002 months left
December 2021about 5002 months left
November 2021about 4002 months left
October 2021about 4002 months left
September 2021about 300IRCC says it needs more time
August 2021about 300IRCC says it needs more time
July 2021about 300IRCC says it needs more time
June 2021about 300IRCC says it needs more time
May 2021about 200IRCC says it needs more time
April 2021about 200IRCC says it needs more time
March 2021about 200IRCC says it needs more time
February 2021about 200IRCC says it needs more time
January 2021about 200IRCC says it needs more time
December 2020about 200IRCC says it needs more time
November 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2019about 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2017fewer than 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 13 months for people who will live outside Quebec.
  • About 77,600 people are already waiting for a decision (outside Quebec).
  • The estimate is about the same as in July.
  • In Quebec the estimate is more than 10 years, with about 42,600 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● 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● SteadyPrivately sponsored refugeesabout 40 monthsabout 71,000 waiting · Quebec: about 54 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 protected person application take?

IRCC's latest estimate, from October 9, 2026, is about 13 months for a new application for people who will live outside Quebec. For people who will live in Quebec it is more than 10 years.

How many people are waiting?

About 77,600 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 13 months−1 month
July 7, 2026about 14 months−1 month
May 12, 2026about 15 months−1 month
March 9, 2026about 16 months−1 month
January 14, 2026about 17 monthsfirst figure
Every published count of people waiting
IRCC updateFigureChange
October 9, 2026about 77,600−8,500
September 3, 2026about 86,100−6,100
August 10, 2026about 92,200−6,100
July 7, 2026about 98,300−5,800
June 8, 2026about 104,100−200
May 12, 2026about 104,300+600
April 7, 2026about 103,700+2,900
March 9, 2026about 100,800+1,300
February 12, 2026about 99,500+3,600
January 14, 2026about 95,900–

Quebec

Every published estimate
IRCC updateFigureChange
July 7, 2026more than 10 yearsno change
June 8, 2026about 119 monthsno change
May 12, 2026about 117 monthsno change
April 7, 2026about 114 monthsno change
February 12, 2026about 112 monthsno change
January 14, 2026about 110 monthsfirst figure
Every published count of people waiting
IRCC updateFigureChange
October 9, 2026about 42,600+500
September 3, 2026about 42,100+200
August 10, 2026about 41,900+1,000
July 7, 2026about 40,900+1,900
June 8, 2026about 39,000−100
May 12, 2026about 39,100+1,100
April 7, 2026about 38,000+900
March 9, 2026about 37,100+100
February 12, 2026about 37,000+700
January 14, 2026about 36,300–

Earlier figures

IRCC no longer publishes these. They're kept here as a record.

IRCC changed how it reports this program in January 2026, so these earlier figures can't be compared directly with the current ones.

Outside Quebec

IRCC's last figure, from December 9, 2025: about 103 months, with about 145,600 people waiting.

Every published estimate
IRCC updateFigureChange
December 9, 2025about 103 months+3 months
November 6, 2025about 100 months+1 month
October 9, 2025about 99 monthsfirst figure
Every published count of people waiting
IRCC updateFigureChange
December 9, 2025about 145,600+4,300
November 6, 2025about 141,300+4,200
October 9, 2025about 137,100–

Quebec

IRCC's last figure, from December 9, 2025: about 108 months, with about 55,900 people waiting.

Every published estimate
IRCC updateFigureChange
December 9, 2025about 108 months+2 months
November 6, 2025about 106 months+2 months
October 9, 2025about 104 monthsfirst figure
Every published count of people waiting
IRCC updateFigureChange
December 9, 2025about 55,900+1,000
November 6, 2025about 54,900+1,200
October 9, 2025about 53,700–

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