Tag Archives: #temporaryvisa

Dear future neighbour,

Waiting for a decision on your Canadian visa or permit is stressful. You want to book flights, tell your employer, or plan your semester, and the biggest question is always the same: how long will this take?

IRCC updated its temporary residence processing times on November 4, 2026. Some applicants now wait less, some wait a little longer, and many see no change at all. Here is what moved and what it could mean for your plans.

The quick highlights

• Work permits for applicants in the United States dropped by three weeks.
• Study permits went up by two weeks for applicants in Canada and by one week for applicants in Nigeria. They went down by one week for applicants in Pakistan.
• Work permit extensions dropped by one week.
• Visitor records dropped by 11 days.

IRCC is also clearing its backlog. Compared with its last update, it now holds 5,200 fewer work permit and study permit applications in its inventory. That is 4,800 fewer work permit applications and 400 fewer study permit applications. These numbers are for extension applications and are as of October 31. The comparison is with the update IRCC published on October 29.

Work permits

Out of the six countries tracked, only the United States saw a change, and it was a big one. The estimate fell from six weeks to three, which is half the previous wait.

IRCC’s service standard for work permits is 120 days for applications submitted inside Canada (initial and extensions) and 60 days for applications submitted from outside Canada.

Study permits

Study permit wait times went up for applicants in Canada and Nigeria, and down for applicants in Pakistan. Pakistan’s estimate of five weeks is its lowest since at least June. Nigeria’s estimate of 11 weeks is its highest over the same period. If you are applying from Nigeria, start early and keep your documents ready.

The service standard for study permits is 120 days inside Canada (initial and extensions) and 60 days outside Canada.

Visitor visas

Visitor visa wait times barely moved. Canada and the United States stayed the same, while the other countries changed by a day or two.

The service standard is 14 days for applications submitted from outside Canada. There is no service standard for applications submitted inside Canada.

Super visas

Super visa processing times crept up in every country on the list, by one to three days. Remember that super visa applications can only be submitted from outside Canada.

The service standard for super visas is 112 days.

Extensions

Extension times apply to people already in Canada who want to extend their stay. These figures are as of October 31.

The work permit estimate covers postgraduate work permits (PGWPs), bridging open work permits (BOWPs), and changes to work permit conditions. As of October 31, IRCC held 191,100 work permit extension applications, which is 4,800 fewer than before. It also held 25,500 study permit extension applications, which is 400 fewer.

Processing times and service standards are not the same thing

Many applicants mix these two up, so here is the simple version.

A processing time is an estimate of how long IRCC may take to decide a newly submitted application. It is not a promise, and it is not a maximum wait. IRCC works it out in one of two ways. The first looks at how long it took to finalize 80% of similar applications in the past. The second looks at how many applications are waiting right now and how many officers and resources are available to handle them.

A service standard is IRCC’s target. It is how long the department aims to take to finalize 80% of applications under normal conditions.

Your own wait can be shorter or longer than either number. Things that can change it include how complex your application is, how many cases are waiting, whether IRCC asks for extra documents, and whether further checks are needed.

Temporary residence estimates usually update every week, while permanent residence and citizenship estimates update monthly. Service standards change rarely. The last changes for temporary residence date back to 2018 and 2019.

For context, IRCC finalized 2,076,745 temporary residence applications between January and August 2026. As of August 31, another 365,425 were still waiting for a decision. IRCC is expected to publish new estimates on or around November 11.

Don’t leave your timeline to chance

Processing times are only a guide, and they change every week. A missing document, a small error, or a wrong application type can push your wait far beyond the estimate. The right plan from the start can save you weeks of stress.

Whether you need a work permit, a postgraduate work permit, a study permit, a visitor visa, or a super visa for your parents, our team is here to guide you. We also help with provincial nomination, Express Entry, spousal sponsorship, citizenship applications, and school admissions.

Ready to plan your next move with confidence?

IRCC’s latest update brings good news for some applicants and a small delay for others. Work permits from the U.S. are faster, study permits from Canada and Nigeria are slower, and extensions are moving a little quicker. Instead of guessing how long your own application will take, speak with an expert who can review your situation and help you apply the right way the first time. Book your consultation here: https://euiacademy.selar.com/30minutes