Canada
Canada visa processing times
8 visa routes, each with the typical decision window as published by IRCC. Click through for the source URL, priority-service notes, and the eligibility criteria that drive the timeline.
| Route | Typical window | Last checked |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Study Permit Study permit for international students at Designated Learning Institutions, governed by provincial study attestation caps. | 3 weeks – 4 months | 2026-04-20 |
| Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Open work permit for graduates of eligible Canadian Designated Learning Institutions. | 2 months – 6 months | 2026-04-20 |
| Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Federal permanent-residence stream for applicants with qualifying Canadian work experience. | 5 months – 6 months | 2026-04-20 |
| Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Federal points-based permanent residence for skilled workers without prior Canadian experience. | 5 months – 8 months | 2026-04-20 |
| Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Permanent residence for qualified tradespeople with a Canadian job offer or provincial certification. | 5 months – 8 months | 2026-04-20 |
| Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada) Permanent residence sponsorship of spouses, common-law partners, or conjugal partners by Canadian citizens or permanent residents. | 10 months – 1.1 years | 2026-04-20 |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Province-led permanent residence streams giving a 600 CRS boost when aligned with Express Entry. | 11 months – 1.5 years | 2026-04-20 |
| Start-Up Visa (Canada) Permanent residence for entrepreneurs with endorsement from a designated Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator. | 2.5 years – 3.3 years | 2026-04-20 |
Source authority: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.