IRCC releases updated temporary residence processing times

IRCC processing times update — Sept 22, 2026: What changing waits for work permits, study permits, visitor visas and super visas mean

Quick overview
IRCC published updated temporary residence processing estimates on September 22, 2026. Key shifts include a one‑week increase in work permit wait times for applicants in the United States, a one‑week decrease for applicants in the Philippines, a 50‑day drop in U.S. super visa processing, and no change to study permit estimates for the first time since mid‑July. Visitor visa waits moved slightly, with the largest single‑country increase of six days. Even small weekly changes can affect travel, job start dates and family reunification plans.

How IRCC calculates these figures
IRCC reports two related measures: processing time estimates and service standards. Processing estimates are not guarantees; they come from either historical data (the period to finalize 80% of past applications) or forward‑looking calculations that account for current inventory and processing capacity. Service standards are internal targets showing how quickly IRCC aims to process most applications under normal conditions. Actual timelines vary with file complexity, inventory size, staffing, requests for more information and further verifications.

Detailed changes (Sept 22 vs. Sept 16)
Below are the IRCC estimates published on September 22 compared with the previous weekly update on September 16. All figures are IRCC’s.

Work permits
– Canada (in‑country): 16 weeks on Sept 22 (IRCC now reports in weeks for in‑Canada work permits); previously listed as 109 days on Sept 16.
– India: 10 weeks (unchanged).
– Pakistan: 8 weeks (unchanged).
– Nigeria: 10 weeks (unchanged).
– United States: 4 weeks (up from 3 weeks).
– Philippines: 6 weeks (down from 7 weeks).
Service standards: In‑Canada submissions (initial and extensions) — 120 days; Outside Canada submissions — 60 days.

Study permits
Estimates were unchanged in this update — the first pause in movement since July 17.
– Canada: 8 weeks.
– India: 5 weeks.
– Pakistan: 7 weeks.
– Nigeria: 10 weeks.
– United States: 6 weeks.
– Philippines: 5 weeks.
Service standards: In‑Canada submissions — 120 days; Outside Canada submissions — 60 days.

Visitor visas
Processing times rose for most featured countries, with increases of one to six days:
– Canada: 11 days (unchanged).
– India: 32 days (up from 29 days).
– Pakistan: 78 days (up from 75 days).
– Nigeria: 93 days (up from 87 days).
– United States: 17 days (up from 16 days).
– Philippines: 21 days (unchanged).
Service standard (outside Canada): 14 days. (In‑Canada submissions: N/A.)

Super visas
Wait times fell for most featured countries; the U.S. saw the largest decline.
– India: 70 days (unchanged).
– Pakistan: 92 days (down from 95 days).
– Nigeria: 44 days (down from 46 days).
– United States: 66 days (down from 116 days — a 50‑day decline).
– Philippines: 90 days (unchanged).
Service standard: 112 days. Note: super visa applications must be submitted from outside Canada.

Why small weekly changes matter
Even modest shifts can disrupt plans when timelines are fixed. Examples:
– Employers and international hires may need to adjust start dates if work permit estimates change.
– Families planning visits via visitor or super visas may have to change travel, caregiving or housing arrangements.
– Students benefit from stability in study permit estimates, but lack of improvement still requires cautious planning.
Also note gaps between service standards and current estimates (for example, visitor visa estimates exceed the 14‑day outside‑Canada target in several countries), which can affect expectations.

Who is most affected
– Temporary foreign workers (in‑country extensions and abroad hires).
– Prospective international students (short‑term predictability but no improvement).
– Visitors and family members applying by visitor or super visa.
– Employers, schools and settlement providers advising clients.

Practical implications and tips
– Build extra buffer time into travel, job start dates and academic plans based on country‑specific estimates, not service standards alone. For example, assume roughly 93 days for a visitor application from Nigeria per this update.
– Employers should factor processing uncertainty into offers and onboarding timelines.
– Applicants should submit complete files and respond promptly to IRCC requests to avoid avoidable delays.
– Note IRCC’s switch to reporting in‑Canada work permit times in weeks (16 weeks) while service standards remain in days (120 days); reconcile both when planning.

What to watch next
IRCC updates temporary residence estimates weekly; the next update is expected on or around September 30, 2026. Monitor whether short‑term trends persist, the gap between service standards and current estimates, and any reporting‑format changes that affect comparisons.

Key numbers to remember from Sept 22
– Work permits: In‑Canada — 16 weeks; Outside Canada service standard — 60 days; In‑Canada service standard — 120 days.
– Study permits: Canada — 8 weeks; India — 5 weeks; Pakistan — 7 weeks; Nigeria — 10 weeks; U.S. — 6 weeks; Philippines — 5 weeks. Service standards: In‑Canada — 120 days; Outside Canada — 60 days.
– Visitor visas: Canada — 11 days; India — 32 days; Pakistan — 78 days; Nigeria — 93 days; U.S. — 17 days; Philippines — 21 days. Service standard (outside Canada) — 14 days.
– Super visas: India — 70 days; Pakistan — 92 days; Nigeria — 44 days; U.S. — 66 days; Philippines — 90 days. Service standard — 112 days. Super visas must be applied for from outside Canada.
– IRCC processed 1,832,065 temporary residence applications from January through July 2026; more than 394,000 remained awaiting finalization as of July 31, 2026.

Next steps for applicants and advisers
– Build contingency time into plans.
– Prepare complete applications and monitor IRCC communications closely.
– Track weekly updates — small shifts can change planning assumptions quickly.
– When timelines are critical, consider alternatives but don’t assume faster processing without evidence from IRCC’s future updates.

IRCC’s weekly estimates give directional insight. This Sept 22 update shows pockets of improvement (notably the U.S. super visa and the Philippines work permit) alongside modest slowdowns (visitor visas and U.S. work permits). The stability in study permit estimates offers short‑term predictability, but proactive planning remains essential.

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