Canada updates IRCC immigration processing timelines during COVID-19

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has launched a new web tool to update IRCC immigration processing timelines during COVID-19.

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IRCC says on its website that it continues to experience processing delays due to COVID-19. As a result, IRCC is prioritizing applications from people who are exempt from travel restrictions.

How to use the IRCC immigration processing timelines tool

The new IRCC immigration processing timelines tool enables you to get information about

processing times for various applications types during the COVID-19 pandemic, and
your application status

You may pre-qualify for a Canada immigration program.

Simply go to the tool on the IRCC website at Processing Timelines During COVID-19. Use the dropdown to select the program you have submitted an application for. Click “continue” for further instructions.

Summary of updated IRCC immigration processing timelines

Permanent residence

IRCC says it has limited capacity to process applications and you may experience a delay. IRCC says that it is finalizing most of the Canadian Experience Class applications received between May 24 and May 30, 2020, meaning processing is delayed by about 10 months.

PR Cards

New PR cards are currently being processed in about 125 days and renewals are taking about 80 days. The PR Card online status tool is updated daily. IRCC says to make sure you gather your documents and have your identification numbers to login.

Family Sponsorship

Program	Application type	IRCC Processing Timelines
Spousal, common-law, dependent child sponsorship	Inland	Finalizing most applications received between Sept. 29 and Oct. 5, 2019.
Spousal, common-law, dependent child sponsorship	Outland	Finalizing most applications received between May 26 and June 1, 2019.
Parents and Grandparents		Check online account.
Adoptive child or other relative		Check online account.

Temporary workers

Work Permit Type	Online or Paper	Eligible for Global Skills Strategy	IRCC Processing Timelines
Work Permit Outside Canada	Online	Yes	Finalizing most applications received between September 20 and 26, 2020.
Work Permit Outside Canada	Online	No	Check online account.
Work Permit Outside Canada	Paper		Can’t give accurate processing time.
Work permit inside Canada (initial, extensions and changes)	Online		Finalizing most applications received between December 13 and 19, 2020.
Work permit inside Canada (initial, extensions and changes)	Paper		Finalizing most applications received between December 13 and 19, 2020.
For asylum claimants	Online		Finalizing most applications received between December 6 and 12, 2020.
For asylum claimants	Paper		Finalizing most applications received between December 6 and 12, 2020.

Study permits

IRCC says that due to COVID-19:

We can’t process applications normally and can’t give accurate processing times for most types of applications.
- Our Client Support Centre agents do not have more information about your application than what’s in your account.
Travel restrictions and changes to our services may affect you.

IRCC is currently finalizing most study permit related applications received between December 13 and December 19, 2020. This means a processing timeline of about 4 months. If your application is complex, it may take us longer to process it. This includes applications for study permits, study permit extensions, and work permits for students.

Visitors visa

The updates include

tourist visa
super visa
transit visa
business visa

If you applied for your visa online, sign in to your account to check your application status. Click “check status and messages” under the “View my submitted applications or profiles” section.

If you applied for your visa on paper, you can link your application to an online account. In your account, you can see the status of your application and receive messages about your application. You will be able to also receive messages about your application from IRCC.