IRCC Processing Times: September 2026 Update for Workers, Students and Visitors
Disclaimer: This article provides general information, not advice about an individual application. For a review of your circumstances, Book a Consultation.
By Dimple Verma, RCIC-IRB R708308 | VG Immigration Services Inc.
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Contact Us →Data checked September 17, 2026. The selected IRCC results were last updated September 16, 2026 (IRCC processing-time tool).
IRCC processing times vary considerably between temporary-residence categories: the September 16 snapshot shows 109 days for work permits submitted inside Canada and 398 days for visitor extensions, also called visitor records (IRCC processing-time tool). These are published processing estimates, not guaranteed decision dates or maximum waiting periods (IRCC guidance).
This update separates inland applications from applications submitted from India. It reports the verified snapshot without claiming a week-over-week increase, because a matching earlier official snapshot has not been verified for this article.
Applications submitted inside Canada
Choose the category that matches your application rather than relying on a general “Canada visa processing time.” IRCC displays separate results for the following inland categories (IRCC processing-time tool).
| Application category | Published processing time |
|---|---|
| Work permit from inside Canada, initial and extension | 109 days (IRCC) |
| Study permit extension | 62 days (IRCC) |
| Visitor extension, visitor record | 398 days (IRCC) |
| Visitor visa from inside Canada | 11 days (IRCC) |
The distinction between a visitor record and a visitor visa is especially important: IRCC expressly states that a visitor record is not a visa, and identifies it as the application for extending a stay in Canada as a visitor (IRCC visitor-record guidance). The 11-day inland visitor-visa result therefore should not be used as the estimate for a visitor extension (IRCC processing-time tool).
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Applicants applying from India
The following results were obtained by selecting India as the place of application in IRCC’s tool; they are not universal estimates for everyone holding an Indian passport (IRCC processing-time tool). Keep the original units in mind when comparing categories.
| Application category | Published processing time |
|---|---|
| Visitor visa from outside Canada, applying from India | 29 days (IRCC) |
| Study permit from outside Canada, applying from India | 5 weeks (IRCC) |
| Work permit from outside Canada, applying from India | 10 weeks (IRCC) |
For planning purposes, leave room for uncertainty rather than treating a displayed estimate as a fixed travel, school-start or employment-start date. IRCC warns that an individual application may take longer than the time shown (IRCC guidance).
How to interpret IRCC processing times
IRCC distinguishes historical processing times, based on how long it took to process 80% of complete applications in the past, from forward-looking estimates that consider inventory and expected processing capacity (IRCC methodology). Read the “How we calculated this processing time” explanation for your selected category rather than assuming that every result is calculated in the same way.
For online or in-person applications, IRCC says the clock starts when the complete application, including all fees, is submitted and ends when a decision is made; for mailed applications, it starts when the complete application and fees arrive in IRCC’s mail room (IRCC methodology). Do not interpret the published figure as an additional waiting period starting on the day you check the tool.
Frequently asked questions
Have all temporary-residence wait times increased?
This article does not establish that claim. It provides current verified figures, not a historical comparison; a reliable comparison would require the same application category, location and dated earlier result.
Is 398 days the processing time for a visitor visa?
No. The 398-day figure applies to the visitor-extension or visitor-record category; the inland visitor-visa category shows 11 days, while visitor visas from India show 29 days in this snapshot (IRCC processing-time tool).
Will my application be decided within the published time?
Not necessarily. IRCC states that the displayed times are not a maximum or a guarantee and that an application may take longer (IRCC guidance).
Where should I check for the next update?
Use the official IRCC tool and select your exact application category and location where requested (IRCC processing-time tool). Treat this article as a dated snapshot, not a live tracker.
Plan around your application, not just a headline
Keep your submission confirmation, document-expiry dates and IRCC correspondence together when planning your next steps. If you need help identifying the correct application category or reviewing your circumstances, Book a Consultation.
VG Immigration Services Inc. | Dimple Verma, RCIC-IRB R708308 | vgis.ca
