Ottawa, ON — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released its latest processing time updates for permanent residence, temporary residence, and citizenship applications. The new figures, published this week, reveal significant shifts in timelines compared to September 10, 2025 — particularly for spousal sponsorship applications in Quebec and in-Canada dependent child sponsorships.
Key Changes in Processing Times
The most notable increase is in spousal sponsorship applications for couples living in Canada and intending to reside in Quebec, which now stand at 37 months, up from 21 months earlier this year. In contrast, spousal sponsorship applications outside Quebec currently take 24 months.
Processing times for dependent child sponsorship applications within Canada have improved dramatically, decreasing from 29 months to 12 months, reflecting IRCC’s efforts to address backlogs in family reunification streams. For dependent child sponsorships from abroad, applications from India are now processed in approximately 6 months, while those from Nigeria take around 18 months.
Permanent Residence Programs Remain Largely Stable
- Express Entry:
- Canadian Experience Class applications are now processed in 6 months, up from 5 months.
- Federal Skilled Worker Program timelines have improved slightly to 5 months.
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program remains unchanged.
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP):
Enhanced (Express Entry) streams are now at 7 months, down from 8, while base streams remain at 19 months, well above the 11-month service standard. - Quebec Immigration:
Skilled Worker Program applications remain at 11 months, with approximately 24,000 applications awaiting processing. - Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP):
Processing remains at 13 months, exceeding the 11-month service standard.
Family Sponsorship — Quebec Applications Lag Behind
| Application Type | Outside Quebec | Quebec |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse/Common-law (In Canada) | 24 months | 37 months |
| Spouse/Common-law (Outside Canada) | 15 months | 41 months |
| Parents & Grandparents Program | 26 months | 44 months |
IRCC’s service standard for spousal sponsorship applications outside Canada remains 12 months, though Quebec applicants continue to face significantly longer wait times.
Government Commitment
IRCC says it is continuing efforts to modernize processing systems, improve digital application tracking, and reduce backlogs in key immigration streams, especially family reunification categories.
“Timely processing is essential for newcomers and families seeking to build their future in Canada. We are making targeted improvements to speed up certain categories, while recognizing there is still work to do, particularly in Quebec,” said an IRCC spokesperson.
For the most current processing times, applicants are encouraged to visit the IRCC website.