Canada visa processing times updated, visitor and super visa waits increase for Indian applicants

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revised its processing time estimates for temporary residence applications, with the November 12, 2026 update showing changes across work permits, study permits, visitor visas and super visas.

The latest figures, compared with those published on November 4, show that work permit processing times increased by one week for applicants from Pakistan and the Philippines. Study permit waits declined for applicants applying from within Canada and Pakistan, while visitor visa processing times moved in different directions depending on the applicant's country.

Also read: Canada sets annual target of 1.5 lakh new international students for 2027-29


For Indian applicants, work permit processing remains unchanged at 10 weeks, while study permit processing continues to take an estimated eight weeks. Visitor visa processing has increased slightly to 34 days.

The department's next processing time update is anticipated around November 18.

Canada work permit processing times

Work permit processing times increased by one week for applicants from Pakistan and the Philippines, taking both to 10 weeks. The Philippines' estimate is now at its highest level in more than five months.

Applying from	Nov 12	Nov 4
Canada	16 weeks	16 weeks
India	10 weeks	10 weeks
Pakistan	10 weeks	9 weeks
Nigeria	10 weeks	10 weeks
US	3 weeks	3 weeks
Philippines	10 weeks	9 weeks

IRCC's service standard is 120 days for initial work permit applications and extensions submitted from within Canada, and 60 days for applications submitted from outside the country.

Canada study permit processing times

Study permit processing improved for applicants applying from within Canada and Pakistan. Both saw their estimated waiting periods fall to their fastest levels in more than four months.

Applying from	Nov 12	Nov 4
Canada	6 weeks	8 weeks
India	8 weeks	8 weeks
Pakistan	4 weeks	5 weeks
Nigeria	11 weeks	11 weeks
US	4 weeks	4 weeks
Philippines	6 weeks	6 weeks

The service standards remain 120 days for applications submitted from within Canada and 60 days for applications submitted from outside Canada.

Canada visitor visa processing times

Visitor visa processing times for Indian applicants increased by two days, from 32 days to 34 days. Pakistan's estimate fell by one day, while Nigeria recorded a three-day reduction.

Applying from	Nov 12	Nov 4
Canada	12 days	12 days
India	34 days	32 days
Pakistan	57 days	58 days
Nigeria	100 days	103 days
US	18 days	18 days
Philippines	24 days	24 days

The service standard for visitor visa applications submitted outside Canada is 14 days. There is no applicable service standard for applications submitted from within Canada.

Visitor visa extensions also became slightly faster. Processing estimates for extensions submitted from within Canada declined from 310 days on November 4 to 304 days on November 12.

Canada super visa processing times

Super visa processing times declined for applicants from Pakistan, Nigeria and the Philippines. Pakistan recorded the largest reduction, with the estimate falling by 10 days.

Also read: Canada to offer 200,000 additional permanent residence spaces in 2027 to workers and select applicants

Applying from	Nov 12	Nov 4
India	87 days	85 days
Pakistan	91 days	101 days
Nigeria	28 days	33 days
US	78 days	75 days
Philippines	104 days	109 days

The super visa service standard is 112 days. Applications for this visa can only be submitted from outside Canada.

How IRCC processing times differ from service standards

IRCC processing time estimates indicate how long applicants may have to wait for a decision after submitting their applications. These are estimates, not guarantees or maximum waiting periods.

The department calculates them using historical processing data or forward-looking estimates. Historical figures are based on the time taken to finalise 80% of previously processed applications. Forward-looking estimates consider the existing application inventory and the resources available to process pending cases.

Service standards are different. They represent the department's operational targets for processing 80% of applications under normal circumstances.

Actual waiting periods can vary depending on application complexity, backlogs, available resources, additional document requests and verification procedures.

IRCC generally updates temporary residence processing estimates weekly, while permanent residence and citizenship estimates are updated monthly. Temporary residence service standards were last revised in 2018–2019.

Between January and August 2026, IRCC finalised 2,076,745 temporary residence applications. A further 365,425 applications remained in its processing inventory as of August 31, 2026.