Canada visa processing time for Indians: Check latest work, study and visitor visa waits

Ottawa: Canada has released its latest temporary residence visa processing estimates, with Indian applicants continuing to face different waiting periods depending on the type of application. Work permit and study permit timelines remained unchanged from the previous update, while visitor visa processing became slightly faster.

Indian applicants seeking a Canadian work permit currently face an estimated processing time of 10 weeks, according to the latest figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The estimate is unchanged from the September 9 update. IRCC's service standard is 60 days for work permit applications submitted from outside Canada, while applications made from within Canada have a 120-day service standard.

For study permits, the estimated processing time for Indian applicants is currently five weeks, also unchanged from the previous week. Applicants applying from within Canada face an estimated wait of eight weeks.

The processing time for a visitor visa is currently 29 days for Indian applicants. This is two days shorter than the 31-day estimate published on September 9. The service standard for visitor visa applications submitted from outside Canada is 14 days.

Indian applicants seeking a super visa currently face an estimated processing time of 70 days, compared with 69 days in the previous update. Super visa applications can only be submitted from outside Canada.

IRCC processing times are estimates

IRCC says its processing-time figures are estimates rather than guaranteed deadlines. Actual processing can take longer or less time depending on factors such as the complexity of an application, the number of applications in the department's inventory, available processing capacity and whether additional documents or checks are required.

The department updates its temporary residence processing estimates every week. The next update is expected around September 23.

IRCC reported that it processed 1,832,065 applications during the first seven months of 2026, while more than 394,000 applications were awaiting finalisation as of July 31.

Applicants are advised to use the processing-time estimates as a guide and account for the possibility that their individual application could take longer or shorter than the published estimate.

The latest figures show that processing times vary significantly by application type. For Indian applicants, the current estimates range from 29 days for visitor visas to 10 weeks for work permits, while study permits are estimated at five weeks.

The weekly updates also mean that applicants should check the IRCC processing-time tool regularly rather than relying on an earlier estimate. A change in the number of applications, processing capacity or the need for additional checks can affect the timeline for individual cases.

Importantly, the published processing estimate should not be confused with IRCC's service standard. A service standard is an administrative target for processing applications, whereas the weekly processing-time estimate reflects how long applications may currently take and is not a guarantee.