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IRCC Updates Canada Visa and Permit Processing Times for May 2026
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has published updated processing timelines for temporary resident applications, revealing faster processing for several work permits, study permits, and super visa categories.
The latest update reflects ongoing efforts by the Canadian government to manage growing immigration demand while improving application efficiency for international applicants.
Among the most notable improvements were study permit applications submitted from within Canada and super visa applications from the United States.
Canada Work Permit Processing Times
Several countries saw positive movement in work permit processing this week.
Applicants from Nigeria and the United States experienced shorter waiting periods, while the Philippines recorded a slight increase.
| Country | Current Time | Previous Time |
| Canada | 212 days | 217 days |
| India | 9 weeks | 9 weeks |
| Pakistan | 8 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Nigeria | 6 weeks | 7 weeks |
| United States | 5 weeks | 6 weeks |
| Philippines | 8 weeks | 7 weeks |
IRCC currently aims to process most overseas work permit applications within 60 days under its service standards.
Study Permit Processing Times in 2026
Study permit applications submitted from Canada improved significantly, dropping from eight weeks to six weeks.
Meanwhile, Pakistan and the Philippines experienced increased processing times.
| Country | Current Time | Previous Time |
| Canada | 6 weeks | 8 weeks |
| India | 4 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Pakistan | 11 weeks | 9 weeks |
| Nigeria | 5 weeks | 5 weeks |
| United States | 5 weeks | 6 weeks |
| Philippines | 5 weeks | 4 weeks |
India continues to maintain one of the fastest study permit processing timelines among major applicant countries.
Visitor Visa Processing Remains Stable
Visitor visa timelines remained mostly unchanged this week, with only minor increases recorded for some countries.
| Country | Current Time |
| Canada | 11 days |
| India | 27 days |
| Pakistan | 50 days |
| Nigeria | 47 days |
| United States | 22 days |
| Philippines | 18 days |
The Canadian government continues to process large volumes of visitor visa applications while attempting to maintain stable timelines.
Super Visa Applications See Faster Processing
Super visa applications experienced some of the strongest improvements in IRCC’s latest update.
The United States saw the largest decrease, with timelines dropping by 12 days.
| Country | Current Time | Previous Time |
| India | 160 days | 168 days |
| Pakistan | 107 days | 102 days |
| Nigeria | 35 days | 37 days |
| United States | 103 days | 115 days |
| Philippines | 32 days | 34 days |
The super visa program allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to stay in Canada for extended periods.
Difference Between Processing Times and Service Standards
IRCC processing times estimate how long applications may take to receive a final decision.
Service standards, however, are performance targets set by IRCC to process most applications within a specified timeframe.
These timelines may vary depending on application volume, country of submission, completeness of documentation, and operational capacity.