Canada has updated its immigration processing-time estimates
August 2026 IRCC Processing Time Update
Application Category | Current Processing Time | Previous Processing Time |
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 6 months | 6 months |
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | 6 months | 7 months |
Provincial Nominee – Express Entry | 7 months | 7 months |
Provincial Nominee – Non-Express Entry | 13 months | 12 months |
Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) | 11 months | 11 months |
Quebec Business Class | 75 months | 75 months |
Atlantic Immigration Program | 26 months | 26 months |
Start-up Visa | 10+ years | 10+ years |
Federal Self-Employed Persons Program | 10+ years | 10+ years |
The figures are estimates and do not represent guaranteed maximum processing periods. Actual processing times can vary depending on application completeness, case complexity, security checks and other factors.
Express Entry Processing Times
Processing times for Express Entry remained stable for the Canadian Experience Class but improved for Federal Skilled Worker Program applicants.
Canadian Experience Class
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) processing time remains at 6 months, unchanged from the previous update. IRCC’s inventory included approximately 59,700 CEC applications awaiting assessment, representing a decrease of 1,800 applications from the previous update.
Federal Skilled Worker Program
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) saw a one-month improvement. Processing time decreased from 7 months to 6 months. The number of FSWP applications awaiting assessment also declined, falling by approximately 3,400 to 52,400 applications.
Federal Skilled Trades Program
IRCC continues to show no processing-time estimate for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) because there is not enough recent data to provide a reliable figure. IRCC’s service standard for Express Entry programs remains six months.
Provincial Nominee Program Processing Times
The latest update produced different results for Express Entry-linked and non-Express Entry provincial nominations.
Express Entry-Linked PNP
The processing time for enhanced PNP applications submitted through Express Entry remains at 7 months. The inventory declined by approximately 300 applications, leaving about 11,800 applications awaiting assessment.
Non-Express Entry PNP
The processing time for base, non-Express Entry PNP applications increased from 12 months to 13 months. This was the only economic immigration category highlighted in the latest update where the processing time increased. Despite the longer estimated wait, IRCC’s inventory of base PNP applications declined by approximately 1,400, to around 102,400 applications. IRCC’s service standards are six months for enhanced PNP applications and 11 months for base PNP applications.
Quebec Immigration Processing Times Remain Unchanged
Applicants under Quebec’s skilled worker and business immigration programs saw no change in the latest update.
| Quebec Program | August 10, 2026 | July 7, 2026 |
| Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) | 11 months | 11 months |
| Quebec Business Class | 75 months | 75 months |
The inventory for the PSTQ declined by approximately 1,000 applications to 21,200, while the Quebec Business Class inventory remained at about 3,700 applications. The published service standard for PSTQ applications is six months.
Atlantic Immigration Program
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) continues to have an estimated processing time of 26 months. This was unchanged from the July update.
The number of applications awaiting assessment declined by approximately 200, leaving an inventory of about 12,100 applications. The AIP has a published service standard of 11 months, meaning the current estimated processing time remains considerably above that standard.
Start-Up Visa and Self-Employed Program Continue to Face Long Waits
Two federal economic immigration programs continue to have exceptionally long processing estimates. The Start-Up Visa Program remains at 10+ years, while the Federal Self-Employed Persons Program also remains at 10+ years.
The Start-Up Visa inventory increased slightly to approximately 47,600 applications, while the Federal Self-Employed Persons Program remained at about 8,000 applications awaiting assessment. These lengthy timelines highlight the importance of considering current processing estimates when evaluating immigration pathways.
Family Sponsorship Processing Times
Processing times for most family sponsorship categories remained unchanged in August. The biggest improvement was recorded for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).
Family Sponsorship Outside Quebec
| Application Type | August 10, 2026 | July 7, 2026 |
| Spouse/Common-Law Partner Inside Canada | 27 months | 27 months |
| Spouse/Common-Law Partner Outside Canada | 17 months | 17 months |
| Parents and Grandparents Program | 29 months | 30 months |
The PGP processing time decreased by one month, from 30 to 29 months.
The PGP inventory outside Quebec also decreased by approximately 1,400 applications, to around 39,000 applications.
Family Sponsorship for Applicants Settling in Quebec
Applicants intending to settle in Quebec continue to face longer family sponsorship processing times.
Application Type | August 10, 2026 | July 7, 2026 |
Spouse/Common-Law Partner Inside Canada | 32 months | 32 months |
Spouse/Common-Law Partner Outside Canada | 33 months | 33 months |
Parents and Grandparents Program | 64 months | 65 months |
The PGP saw a one-month improvement, falling from 65 months to 64 months.
Spousal and common-law partner processing times remained unchanged.
Canadian Citizenship Processing Times
Citizenship Service | August 10, 2026 | July 7, 2026 |
Citizenship Grant | 12 months | 12 months |
Renunciation of Citizenship | 4 months | 7 months |
Search of Citizenship Records | 17 months | 17 months |
The renunciation processing time declined by three months, from seven months to four months. IRCC had approximately 328,200 citizenship grant applications in its inventory as of August 10, an increase of about 2,000 from July 7. The service standard for citizenship grants is 12 months.
Processing Times Are Not Guaranteed Deadlines
Applicants should understand the difference between an IRCC processing time and a service standard. A processing time is an estimate of how long an application may take. It is not a guarantee that IRCC will make a decision within that period. Processing times can be affected by:
- The type of application.
- Whether the application is complete.
- Application volumes.
- IRCC’s processing capacity.
- The complexity of the case.
- Security and background checks.
- Requests for additional documents or information.
- How quickly an applicant responds to IRCC requests.
- Annual immigration admission targets.
IRCC uses both historical and forward-looking methods to calculate processing times, depending on the type of application. Historical estimates are generally based on how long it took to process 80% of similar applications, while forward-looking estimates consider inventory levels and expected processing capacity.
Why Processing Times Can Change
IRCC’s processing estimates are regularly updated because application inventories and processing capacity change over time. For permanent residence applications, processing can also be influenced by Canada’s annual immigration levels.
If IRCC receives more applications than can be finalized within available admission spaces, some applications may need to wait until space becomes available in a future year. This is one reason why a reduction in the number of applications in an inventory does not necessarily result in an immediate reduction in the published processing time.
What This Means for Applicants
The August update provides mixed news for Canadian immigration applicants. Express Entry applicants under the Federal Skilled Worker Program saw an improvement, with processing time dropping from seven to six months. CEC applicants continue to face an estimated six-month processing time.
Applicants with base PNP nominations saw the estimated wait increase to 13 months, while enhanced PNP applications remained at seven months. For family sponsorship, the Parents and Grandparents Program improved slightly, while spousal sponsorship processing times remained unchanged. Citizenship applicants applying for a grant continue to face an estimated 12-month processing time.
What Applicants Should Do
Applicants waiting for a decision should continue monitoring their application through their IRCC online account or application status tools. Applicants can help avoid unnecessary delays by:
- Providing a complete application.
- Responding promptly to IRCC requests.
- Keeping contact information updated.
- Reporting important changes to personal circumstances.
- Providing additional documents when requested.
- Ensuring passports and other documents remain valid where required.
- Monitoring their application status regularly.
IRCC notes that applications can take longer than the published estimate when additional verification, background checks or other processing is required.
Key Takeaways
The latest IRCC processing-time update shows:
- FSWP: improved from 7 months to 6 months.
- CEC: remains at 6 months.
- Express Entry-linked PNP: remains at 7 months.
- Non-Express Entry PNP: increased from 12 to 13 months.
- Quebec PSTQ: remains at 11 months.
- Quebec Business Class: remains at 75 months.
- Atlantic Immigration Program: remains at 26 months.
- Start-Up Visa: remains at 10+ years.
- Federal Self-Employed Persons Program: remains at 10+ years.
- PGP outside Quebec: improved from 30 to 29 months.
- PGP within Quebec: improved from 65 to 64 months.
- Citizenship grants: remain at 12 months.
- Citizenship renunciation: improved from 7 to 4 months.
- Processing times are estimates, not guarantees.
- Applicants should rely on the latest IRCC processing-time information rather than older estimates.
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Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Immigration programs, processing times, eligibility requirements, and application procedures may change without notice. Readers should consult official Government of Canada resources or seek professional immigration advice before making any immigration decisions.
