Canada says it will only be able to process half of the visa applications from India before end of the year

Canada has said it will be able to process about half of the visa applications filed by Indians by the end of 2023. Out of the 38,000 Indian visas applications pending, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) can now only process 20,000 by December due to limited on-the-ground resources in India, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said, CIC News has reported.

As a consequence, IRCC anticipates an estimated backlog of 17,500 Indian applications at the start of 2024.

This temporary pause is a result of a reduction in staff following the expulsion of 41 Canadian diplomats from India.


The remaining five IRCC staff in India is now prioritising essential tasks within the country, including urgent processing, visa printing, risk assessment, and overseeing key partners such as visa application centers, panel physicians, and immigration medical exam clinics.

IRCC is hopeful that Indian visa application processing will return to normal by early 2024. The department plans for the 22 immigration staff who have been relocated from India to Canada and the Philippines to resume their duties.

This limitation will result in slower overall processing times, delayed responses to inquiries, and extended wait times for visa and passport returns.

IRCC aims to process 80% of applications within specific service standards, which differ based on the type of application. An application is considered in backlog when it surpasses the designated service standards, for instance, an international student visa should ideally be processed within 60 days, a family-class sponsorship application within 12 months, and an Express Entry application within six months.

In response to the situation, IRCC has temporarily suspended all in-person services at consulates in India, although applications from India will still be accepted and processed. Certain application requirements will need to be completed locally or on-site within a secure environment.

Regarding the reduction in staff, IRCC has said that majority of Indian applications are already processed outside the country, with 89% of them managed through the global network.

In response to the ongoing India-Canada diplomatic standoff, the IRCC, last week, announced a slowdown in Indian visa applications. The tension escalated after Canada removed 41 of its diplomats from India, following India's decision to unilaterally remove immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and their dependents in Delhi by October 20, 2023.

Canada has temporarily suspended visa and in-person consular services in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. The same will be available only the Canadian High Commission in Delhi. India had a month back suspended visa processing in Canada, but have now restarted some visa processes.