Canada Updates Visa Processing Times: Faster PR Cards, Longer Citizenship Waits

Planning a move to Canada? Whether it’s for work, study, or a new life, understanding the latest immigration processing times is crucial. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently released its March 18, 2025, processing updates, offering a valuable glimpse into current wait times.

These figures indicate how long IRCC took to process 80% of applications, reflecting current workloads and staffing levels. While not fixed deadlines, they offer applicants a better understanding of what to expect when planning their immigration journey.

Let’s delve into the specifics and what they mean for your Canadian journey.

Key Changes in IRCC Processing Times for March 2025

Citizenship Applications: Longer Waits for Some

Applicants seeking Canadian citizenship will need to exercise patience, as processing times have slightly increased:

For those dreaming of becoming Canadian citizens, the latest figures suggest a slight increase in processing durations.

• Citizenship Grant: Expect approximately 9 months, a month longer than previously reported. This indicates a potential backlog in citizenship applications.
• Citizenship Certificate: Processing times have also nudged up to 4 months, again reflecting a one-month increase.
• Renunciation of Citizenship: On a positive note, renunciation processing has decreased to 10 months, down by two months.
• Search of Citizenship Records: This remains steady at 16 months.

Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR): Applicants who submitted their applications around February 24, 2025, are now receiving their AOR letters or emails, signalling the initial stages of their application’s journey.

Permanent Residency (PR) Cards: Faster Processing

Good news for those awaiting their Permanent Residency (PR) cards! Processing times have seen a notable decrease.

• New PR Card: Now processed in just 16 days, down from 24 days.
• PR Card Renewal: Renewals are also faster, taking approximately 14 days, a slight improvement.

This positive trend indicates IRCC’s efforts to streamline PR card processing.

Visitor Visas and Extensions: Varying Wait Times by Country

Processing times for visitor visas continue to fluctuate based on the applicant’s country of residence:

Super Visa Processing: Mixed Changes

The Super Visa, designed for parents and grandparents of Canadian residents, has seen both increases and decreases in processing times:

Study Permits: No Major Changes

Students applying for a study permit should note the following wait times:

Work Permits: Minor Improvements

Canada work permit processing times remain stable, with a slight improvement for Nigeria:

Must Read: Canada Rejects 2.36 Million Visitor, Study and Work Visas in 2024

Canada’s Immigration Growth Slows Down

Despite ongoing immigration efforts, Canada’s population growth slowed to 1.8% in 2024, the lowest rate in three years, bringing the total population to 41.5 million. Policy adjustments have led to fewer new and temporary residents, cooling off the post-pandemic immigration surge.

What This Means for Applicants

• Longer waits for citizenship applications mean prospective Canadians should plan their timelines carefully.
• Faster PR card processing benefits those looking to renew or obtain their cards quickly.
• Visitor visa applicants should check their country-specific timelines to avoid delays.
• Work and study permit applicants should remain aware of steady or slightly fluctuating wait times.

Final Thoughts

The latest IRCC processing updates highlight both improvements and delays, depending on the visa type and applicant’s location. Travellers and immigrants planning to move to or visit Canada should stay informed about changing processing times to avoid unexpected delays.

Checking IRCC’s official website regularly can help applicants stay up to date with the latest immigration trends and policies.