Canada records shorter wait times across key PR streams, i.e., several economic immigration applicants have received positive news as application wait periods have become shorter under some Canadian immigration programs.
The latest update shows improvements for applicants under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), and Quebec Business Class. Among these programs, AIP applicants saw the largest improvement, with estimated waiting periods dropping by a full year.
Applicants under the Provincial Nominee Program also experienced shorter wait periods. Both enhanced and base applications moved down by one month. Quebec Business Class applicants saw their estimated waiting period fall by two months.
While many economic immigration applicants saw improvements, some family sponsorship applicants faced slightly longer waiting periods. Sponsorship applications involving spouses, common-law partners, and parents and grandparents generally increased by one month.
At the same time, no changes were reported for non-PNP Express Entry applications or Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ).
This article outlines the latest estimated application timelines for economic immigration, family sponsorship, and citizenship applications as of June 8, compared with the May 12 update.
So, without further ado, let us begin!
PR: Economic Immigration
Economic immigration programs showed stable or improved application timelines in the latest update. No category experienced a longer wait period. Instead, several programs reported better estimates than the previous month.
Atlantic Immigration Program
The Atlantic Immigration Program recorded the most notable improvement. Estimated waiting periods dropped by 12 months and reached the lowest level seen since September 2025.
| Current (June 8) | Previous (May 12) |
| 26 months | 38 months |
Service standard: 11 months.
Applications in inventory awaiting assessment: 12,900
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Applicants under the Provincial Nominee Program also benefited from shorter timelines. Both enhanced and base applications improved by one month.
| Application Type | Current (June 8) | Previous (May 12) |
| Through Express Entry (enhanced) | 6 months | 7 months |
| Non-Express Entry (base) | 13 months | 14 months |
Service standard: Six months for enhanced applications, 11 months for base applications.
Applications in inventory awaiting assessment:
- Enhanced: 14,000.
- Base: 110,200.
Quebec Immigration
Quebec immigration programs showed mixed results. The Skilled Worker Selection Program remained unchanged, while Quebec Business Class applications saw a two-month improvement.
| Stream | Current (June 8) | Previous (May 12) |
| Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) | 11 months | 11 months |
| Quebec Business Class (QBC) | 76 months | 78 months |
Service standard: 11 months for PSTQ applicants, unpublished for QBC applications.
Applications in inventory awaiting assessment:
- PSTQ: 24,800.
- Quebec Business Class: 3,700.
Express Entry
Express Entry applicants saw no changes compared to the previous update. Estimated timelines remained the same across all available categories.
| Application Type | Current (June 8) | Previous (May 12) |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 7 months | 7 months |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | 7 months | 7 months |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) | N/A | N/A |
Note: Current and previous estimates for FSTP applications are not available because Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reported that there is not enough information to provide reliable figures.
Service standard: Six months for all Express Entry applications.
Applications in inventory awaiting assessment:
- CEC: 60,900.
- FSWP: 52,000.
Other Economic Programs
Two other economic immigration programs continue to face extremely long delays. Applicants under both the Start-up Visa Program and the Federal Self-Employed Persons Program are still facing estimated waiting periods of more than 10 years.
Both programs remain paused.
| Application Type | Current (June 8) | Previous (May 12) |
| Start-up visa | More than 10 years | More than 10 years |
| Federal Self-Employed Persons Program | More than 10 years | More than 10 years |
IRCC does not publish service standards for the above programs.
Applications in inventory awaiting assessment:
- Start-up visa: 46,600.
- Federal Self-Employed Persons Program: 8,100.
PR: Family Sponsorship
Family sponsorship applications generally moved in the opposite direction.
Most categories recorded a one-month increase in estimated waiting periods. The only exception was the Parents and Grandparents Program outside Quebec, which improved slightly.
| Application Type | Current (June 8) | Previous (May 12) |
| Spouse or common-law partner living inside Canada | To reside outside Quebec: 26 months To reside in Quebec: 32 months | To reside outside Quebec: 25 months To reside in Quebec: 31 months |
| Spouse or common-law partner living outside Canada | To reside outside Quebec: 16 months To reside in Quebec: 33 months | To reside outside Quebec: 16 months To reside in Quebec: 32 months |
| Parents and Grandparents Program | To reside outside Quebec: 32 months To reside in Quebec: 67 months | To reside outside Quebec: 33 months To reside in Quebec: 66 months |
Service standard: 12 months for sponsorship of a spouse/common-law partner outside Quebec; unpublished for other application types.
Applications in inventory awaiting assessment:
- Partner living in Canada, outside Quebec: 55,200.
- Partner living in Canada, in Quebec: 12,100.
- Partner living outside Canada, outside Quebec: 51,300.
- Partner living outside Canada, in Quebec: 18,600.
- Parent and Grandparents, outside Quebec: 43,500.
- Parents and Grandparents, in Quebec: 11,000.
Citizenship Applications
Citizenship-related applications remained stable in the latest update.
No changes were reported for citizenship grants, citizenship renunciation requests, or searches for citizenship records.
| Application type | Current (June 8) | Previous (May 12) |
| Citizenship grant | 13 months | 13 months |
| Renunciation of citizenship | 7 months | 7 months |
| Search of citizenship records | 17 months | 17 months |
There are currently 326,400 citizenship grant applications in IRCC’s inventory, an increase of 5,300 applications since May 12. The service standard for citizenship grants remains 12 months.
Understanding Wait Period Estimates And Service Standards
Application wait period estimates and service standards are different measures.
IRCC’s estimates give applicants an idea of how long immigration, temporary residence, and citizenship applications may take to be completed.
These figures are only estimates. Actual timelines can vary based on several factors, including application quality, missing information, document requests, and case complexity.
IRCC uses two different methods when calculating these estimates.
- Historical estimates: based on how long it took for the department to finalize 80% of applications of that type in the past.
- Forward-looking estimates: Based on current application inventory and projected processing capacity.
Service standards work differently. They are internal targets that show how quickly IRCC hopes to complete applications under normal conditions.
In most situations, IRCC aims to complete about 80% of applications within the applicable service standard.
The department updates application timeline estimates regularly. Depending on the immigration stream, updates may appear weekly or monthly. Service standards, however, tend to change much less often and may remain the same for several years.
MakeHomeCanada, a Canadian immigration leader, promises excellence and tailored pathways for your Canadian journey. Get in touch with us at [email protected].
