IRCC updates show faster decisions for visa applications, i.e., Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shared new updates on temporary residence application timelines on April 29, 2026. The latest data shows clear improvements in how quickly some applications are being handled.
Applicants from Pakistan and Nigeria saw the biggest improvements over a two-week period.
Here are the main changes seen in this update:
- Work Permits: Applications from Pakistan moved faster by eight weeks, while Nigeria saw a six-week improvement.
- Study Permits: Applications from Pakistan became faster by three weeks, and Nigeria saw a two-week improvement.
Visitor visa timelines, however, increased slightly for all countries listed.
Work Permits
Most countries saw better timelines for work permit applications. Pakistan had the biggest improvement, followed by Nigeria.
| Applying From: | Current Timeline | Timeline As Of April 15 |
| Canada | 217 days | 240 days |
| India | 9 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Pakistan | 8 weeks | 16 weeks |
| Nigeria | 7 weeks | 13 weeks |
| United States | 6 weeks | 7 weeks |
| Philippines | 7 weeks | 7 weeks |
Service standard:
- In-Canada submissions (initial and extensions): 120 days
- Outside Canada submissions: 60 days
- International Experience Canada permit submissions: 56 days
Study Permits
Study permit timelines improved or stayed the same for most countries. Only India and the United States saw slight increases.
Pakistan saw the biggest improvement with a three-week faster timeline.
| Applying From: | Current Timeline | Timeline As Of April 15 |
| Canada | 8 weeks | 8 weeks |
| India | 4 weeks | 3 weeks |
| Pakistan | 9 weeks | 12 weeks |
| Nigeria | 5 weeks | 7 weeks |
| United States | 6 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Philippines | 4 weeks | 5 weeks |
Service standard:
- In-Canada submissions (initial and extensions): 120 days
- Outside Canada submissions: 60 days
Visitor Visas
Visitor visa timelines increased slightly for all countries. The rise ranged from one to five days.
Pakistan saw the biggest increase in this category.
| Applying From: | Current Timeline | Timeline As Of April 15 |
| Canada | 11 days | 10 days |
| India | 27 days | 23 days |
| Pakistan | 48 days | 43 days |
| Nigeria | 45 days | 42 days |
| United States | 22 days | 18 days |
| Philippines | 17 days | 15 days |
Service standard:
- In-Canada submissions: N/A
- Outside Canada submissions: 14 days
Super Visas
Super visa timelines improved for all countries in this update.
Applications from the United States saw the biggest improvement, with a drop of seven weeks. Nigeria saw a smaller improvement of two days.
| Applying From: | Current Timeline | Timeline As Of April 15 |
| India | 168 days | 182 days |
| Pakistan | 102 days | 107 days |
| Nigeria | 37 days | 39 days |
| United States | 115 days | 164 days |
| Philippines | 34 days | 37 days |
Service standard: 112 days
Note that super visa applications can only be submitted from outside Canada.
Difference Between Timelines And Service Standards
Timelines and service standards are related but not the same.
IRCC timelines give an estimate of how long it may take for a decision to be made after an application is submitted.
For online applications, the time starts from the moment the application is sent. For paper applications, it starts when the application is received by IRCC.
These estimates are based on two types of data:
- Historical: Based on how long it took to complete most applications (about 80%) in the past.
- Forward-looking: Based on current workload and expected output.
The goal is to complete about 80% of applications within the set time. The remaining 20% may take longer due to more complex situations.
