Indians planning to visit, study, or work in Canada in 2026 should be aware of changing visa processing times.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released its latest timelines for temporary resident applications, including visitor visas, work permits, study permits, and super visas.
The new numbers show a mixed picture.
Visitor visas are processing faster, while work permits are slower for many countries.
Study permits remain steady, and super visas continue to take the longest.
Processing Times for Indian Applicants
Here’s how the latest IRCC updates affect Indians:
Visitor visas: Now take 83 days, down from 99 days — the biggest improvement for Indian applicants.
Work permits: Processing has improved slightly, now at 8 weeks, compared to 9 weeks previously.
Study permits: Remain quick and stable, now taking 4 weeks, up slightly from 3 weeks.
Super visas: Taking longer, with processing now 214 days, up from 206 days.
This shows that while travel plans may be easier for tourists, super visa applicants should prepare for longer waits.
Global Trends: Work Permits and Visitor Visas
Work permits have slowed for several countries:
Canada: 241 days (up from 220)
Pakistan: 20 weeks (up from 13)
United States: 10 weeks (up from 7)
Nigeria: 9 weeks (down from 11)
India: 8 weeks (down from 9)
Visitor visa processing shows improvements mainly for India:
India: 83 days (down from 99)
United States: 25 days (down from 27)
Pakistan: 56 days (slightly down from 57)
Nigeria: 40 days (up from 36)
IRCC aims to process visitor visas filed from outside Canada within 14 days, though timelines can vary.
Study Permits and Super Visas
Study permits are largely stable, with only minor changes:
India: 4 weeks (up from 3)
United States: 7 weeks (up from 6)
Super visas continue to see long wait times:
India: 214 days (up from 206)
United States: 187 days (up sharply from 93)
IRCC notes that these timelines are estimates and may vary depending on case complexity, verification speed, and how quickly applicants provide additional documents if requested.
Key Takeaways for Indian Travelers
Visitor visas are now faster, offering relief to tourists.
Work permit timelines can vary widely — plan ahead.
Study permits remain quick and reliable.
Super visas take the longest, especially for US-based applicants.
Always submit complete and accurate documentation to avoid delays.
