LMIA FinderPermanent Residence Processing Time
Current IRCC processing times for Canadian permanent residence applications by stream.
Overview
Permanent residence in Canada can be obtained through several immigration streams including Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, family sponsorship, and others. Processing times vary by program and country.
Express Entry (FSW, CEC, FST)
The fastest PR pathway, with a target processing time of 6 months from ITA to landing.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Nomination by a province, then federal PR processing. Total time includes provincial and federal stages.
Family Sponsorship PR
Sponsored by a Canadian citizen or PR. Spousal sponsorship is typically 12-15 months.
Processing Times by Country
Processing times are estimates from IRCC and may change. They represent the time from application submission to final decision for most cases.
Tips to Avoid Processing Delays
Respond to requests for additional documents promptly to avoid delays
Ensure your medical exam and police certificates are current at time of application
Track your application status through the IRCC online portal
Express Entry has a 6-month service standard from ITA - most applications are processed within this window
PNP applications include both provincial and federal processing stages
Check Your Application Status
You can check the status of your application using the IRCC online tools: