Canada’s latest visa processing time update brings limited changes for Indian applicants, with wait times for work and study permits remaining unchanged, while visitor visa processing has improved slightly and the Super Visa wait has increased by a day.
According to a report by CIC News, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated its temporary residence processing estimates on September 16.
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Canada visa processing times for Indians
The estimated processing time for a work permit from India remains at 10 weeks, unchanged from the previous update, , compared with three weeks for those applying from the US and seven weeks for applicants in the Philippines. Applications made from within Canada currently take 109 days.
India's study permit processing also remains unchanged at five weeks which is lower than the eight-week wait for applications made from within Canada and the six-week estimate for applicants in the US. The Philippines also has an estimated wait of five weeks.
IRCC updates temporary residence processing estimates every week. The next update is expected around September 23.
For visitor visas, the estimated processing time for Indian applicants is 29 days. This compares with 16 days for applicants in the US, 21 days in the Philippines and 11 days for applications made from within Canada.
The difference is more pronounced for Super Visas. Indian applicants face an estimated 70-day wait, compared with 116 days for applicants in the US and 90 days in the Philippines. Super Visa applications can only be submitted from outside Canada.
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Super Visa applications can only be submitted from outside Canada. The visa allows eligible parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to visit Canada for extended periods.
IRCC processing times are estimates
IRCC updates temporary residence processing time estimates every week. The next update is expected around September 23, 2026.
The department says processing times are estimates and are not deadlines, guarantees or maximum processing periods. The actual time taken can vary depending on factors including the complexity of an application, the number of applications in the inventory, processing capacity, requests for additional documents and other checks.
IRCC uses historical estimates or a forward-looking approach to calculate processing times, depending on the application type.
The service standard for applications submitted from outside Canada is 60 days for work permits and study permits and 14 days for visitor visas. The service standard for Super Visas is 112 days.
IRCC reported processing 1,832,065 applications during the first seven months of 2026. As of July 31, more than 394,000 applications were awaiting finalisation.
