When you’re planning to make Canada your new home, one of the biggest questions on your mind might be: *How long will it take?* Canada is a country which has several immigration programs and has their own procedure and timetable. Processing times for different immigration pathways were broken down to help you prepare, set realistic expectations, and plan your move.
1. Express Entry Processing Time
One of the most popular programs for skilled workers who want to come to Canada is Express Entry, and that’s because it’s relatively quick. On average, Express Entry applications take six months from the date that you submit your completed application. Here’s what influences the timeline:
1. Type of Program within Express Entry: The three programs that fall under Express Entry are the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). All three have a six month target, but applicants with high CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) scores tend to get invitations faster.
2. Completeness of Application: It takes time as missing documents or unclear information gets removed. Let’s say that your police clearance certificate is not updated, or you don’t have all the data in your work history, you will face obstacles.
3. High Demand Periods: For example, processing times could be sped up at the end of the year, for instance, due to a rush of applications to ILCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada).
2. PNP Processing Times
Provincial Nominee Programs or PNPs, allow the provinces in Canada to recommend individuals to migrate to a particular region. The processing time here varies since it depends on two steps:
Step 1 – Nomination from the Province: A nomination from provinces such as Ontario, Alberta or British Columbia can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to process. Some provinces are quicker, such as Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities Stream, and others, such as Saskatchewan, may take longer.
Step 2 – Federal Application Processing: When you’re nominated, you apply at the federal level, as you do in Express Entry, and it can take anywhere from six months to a year. In other words, the average PNP process can take from 12 to 18 months, depending on the province’s processing speed.
Example: If you are trying to settle in Alberta, look out for the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) which is said to have faster timelines. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is sometimes slower than where the demand is high.
3. Family Sponsorship Processing Time
Depending on the relative they’re sponsoring (spouse, child, parent, grandparent), Canadian citizens and permanent residents may participate in family sponsorship programs. Processing times vary depending on the type of sponsorship:
Spouse or Common-Law Partner Sponsorship: Sponsoring a spouse or partner typically takes 12 months. This timeline applies to inland (within Canada) and outland (outside Canada) applications.
Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship: Applications for this program are quite popular and are processed in 20-24 months. This program is so popular, that Canada opens it periodically through a lottery style invitation system.
Dependent Children: If you are sponsoring dependent children, expect faster process, usually 9-12 months.
It’s a bit tricky as well with sponsorship applications because any incomplete documents or IRCC requests for verification can slow things down so it’s best to triple check before you submit.
4. Study Permit Processing Times
To study in Canada, you need a study permit. The processing time for a study permit varies widely depending on your country of residence:
General Processing Times: Study permits are usually processed in 1 to 3 months.
Student Direct Stream (SDS): The Student Direct Stream is available to students from China, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam, and expedites the process. You could get a response in 20 calendar days if you’re eligible, much faster than the usual study permit route.
Factors that Affect Processing: Things can slow down with high application volumes, particularly before the September and January academic intakes. Early application and making sure all documents are clear and complete will help your chance of a speedy response.
5. Work Permit Processing Times
There are work permits for a variety of reasons, some are tied to job offers and some are open work permits that do not require employer sponsorship. Here’s a quick overview:
Employer-Specific Work Permits: If you have a job offer in Canada, then your work permit will take about 1-3 months. The timeline can vary depending on whether an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) is required, as the LMIA process takes a couple of weeks.
Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP): If you’re a student graduating from a Canadian institution that’s eligible, the processing time for the PGWP is generally 2-3 months.
Working Holiday Visa: This is part of the International Experience Canada (IEC) program, and is available to youth from certain countries. It takes about 8 weeks to process time, but it can be different depending on your nationality and demand.
6. Visitor Visa Processing Time
If you’re going to visit for a short time, say, to visit family or just to travel around Canada as a tourist, the visitor visa is what you need. The processing times for an applicant’s visitor visa depend on applicant programs and application volumes in the applicant’s home country.
General Processing Time: The usual time it takes for a visitor visa is 2-4 weeks, but depending on when a job change agreement is applicable, it might take longer.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): Canada has an eTA for visa exempt travelers that is processed in minutes and allows you to enter without the long wait time for a visa. If you’re from a qualifying country, and are coming over for tourism or business, this is an excellent option.
How to Reduce Your Processing Time
While you can’t control the entire process, there are a few things you can do to avoid delays:
1. Double-Check Your Documents: Your application or IRCC may ask for more information because missing documents or incomplete information.
2. Submit Everything Online: If you can, submit digitally, as paper applications tend to take longer.
3. Apply Early: Applying well before you plan on travelling can be less stressful for programs like study permits and visitor visas.
4. Monitor IRCC Updates: Application volumes change frequently and therefore processing times change frequently as well, so check IRCC’s official site.
Final Thoughts
The average processing times can give you a sense that the wait isn’t endless and you can set in place some expectations and plan. Whether you’re applying for Express Entry, family sponsorship or a study permit, having all the documents ready and a clear idea of how long you’ll need to wait can help you feel a bit more in control.
The journey to Canada is a big step and the result is worth the patience.