CIMM – Processing Times and Service Delivery – March 23, 2026
Key Messages
- We remain committed to processing 80% of applications within service standards. When application volumes exceed admissions targets, some applicants may need to wait until admissions space becomes available, which can increase overall processing times.
- To help clients better understand the estimated processing times, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides this information via an online processing times tool. Clients are able to check the number of applicants in the queue and the estimated time it will take to process their application so that they can plan accordingly.
- IRCC continues to improve the information it provides to clients on their files through its online accounts and status checkers.
If pressed:
- Processing times are influenced by a range of factors, including: the annual immigration levels approved by Parliament, the number of applications received, the complexity of individual cases, how quickly applicants respond to requests for information, and the processing capacity of the Department. Despite these variables, the majority of applications are processed well within established service standards.
- Application intake caps in key lines of business (e.g., Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, Quebec Skilled Worker, and study permits), along with recent work permit reforms, such as enforcing eligibility limits on employers on low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) required streams, help us to maintain predictable processing times and achieve service standards.
- To improve transparency to our clients, forward-looking processing times and in-queue information are now available in IRCC’s online processing times tool for several permanent resident (PR) and citizenship lines of business. This tool provides estimates based on current inventory levels and target admissions, offering a more accurate view of when an application may be finalized.
- Over the past year, efficiencies in IRCC’s operations coupled with the rollout of transparency initiatives have improved client access to the Department. With these changes the Department’s Client Support Centre is currently meeting service standards for its phone and email operations.
Key Facts and Figures (as of January 31, 2026)
| Line of Business | Service Standard |
Processing Times (As of January 31, 2026) |
Forward-Looking: What Most New Clients Can Expect
Table Footnote ***
(As of January 31, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent Resident Table Footnote * | (in months) | ||
| Canadian Experience Class | 6 | 4.5 | 7 |
| Quebec Skilled Workers | 11 | 7.9 | 10 |
| Federal Skilled Workers | 6 | 7.0 | 6 |
| Provincial/Territorial Nominees (Express Entry) | 6 | 8.7 | 7 |
| Provincial/Territorial Nominees (Non-Express Entry) | 11 | 16.2 | 13 |
| Spouses, Partners, and Children: Overseas (Rest of Canada) | 12 | 12.6 | 13 |
| Temporary Resident Table Footnote ** | (in days) | ||
| Work Permit | 60 | 56 | 25-45 |
| Study Permit | 60 | 51 | 25-45 |
| Temporary Resident Visa | 14 | 56 | 45-65 |
Humanitarian and Compassionate/Refugees
- The Department processes applications for permanent residency in accordance with the annual Immigration Levels Plan. If the number of applications in the inventory is greater than the corresponding allotted admissions space, inventory accumulates and processing times increase. For some lines of business, such as Humanitarian and Compassionate immigration categories, Privately Sponsored Refugees, and Protected Persons Landed in Canada and their dependents abroad, the number of applications in the inventory are greater than available admissions space, leading to increasing processing times.
January 2026 Service Standard Adherence
- At the end of January 2026, service standards were met in the Canadian Experience Class and Quebec Skilled Workers permanent residence categories; new PR cards; as well as for new work and study permits. Additionally, citizenship grants continue to be processed within the established service standard.
Access to the Client Support Centre
- The Department is currently meeting the service standard of responding to 80% email inquiries within three days this fiscal year up from 20% last fiscal year and we have achieved a 50% answer rate of callers requesting to speak to an agent, up from 38% last fiscal year; a significant improvement over last year.
- In January 2026, IRCC’s Contact Centre received over 525K inquiries across all service channels.
- Operational changes have enhanced efficiency and service quality. As we improve our service standard adherence, we are observing a decrease in overall enquiries as clients receive the responses they need faster, reducing the need for multiple inquiries, and redials. Overall inquiries have decreased by 30% in January compared to the same period last year.
Modernization Efforts to Improve Processing Times
- IRCC continues to invest in new tools that align with the commitment to provide greater transparency with clients. Providing this transparency from the outset strengthens operational efficiency and gives clients better access to the information they need to help them make informed decisions. Increased transparency will be important in providing clarity and minimizing uncertainty for clients, as the impacts of lower immigration levels may lead to an increase in wait times across some lines of business.
- The Department continues to digitize application processes and harness automation technologies to improve processing times while protecting and prioritizing the health, safety, and security of Canadians.
- Advanced analytics help identify routine applications for streamlined processing. This allows IRCC to better manage its work, so clients receive decisions sooner. Advanced analytic models are not used to make or recommend negative decisions. All refusals are made by human officers after they review the application themselves.
- IRCC is undertaking a service standards review to ensure service standards are meaningful and relevant for our programs, in line with the Department’s ability to forecast demand and address intake. This is part of IRCC’s ongoing efforts to set clear expectations for clients and increase transparency on performance.