Many people considering immigrating to Canada were left with a lot of doubt and concerns after the pandemic struck. “Will my visa still be processed and how long will it take?” and “Will I be able to enter Canada with my visa?” are just a few examples. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) never stopped accepting or processing visa applications, despite a small delay in processing. However, some of Canadas immigration policies have been prioritised based on the countrys requirements as well as labour market needs during COVID-19. Under the Express Entry scheme, which is inviting around 4,000 applicants to apply for permanent residence every two weeks, some of these systems include the Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee programmes. To date, 66,475 newcomers have been issued with Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency. With half of the year almost over and an immigration target of issuing 401,000 ITAs by the end of 2021, your chances of receiving your own ITA are more than promising!
This is dependent on a number of variables. The first factor that may influence the time it takes for your visa application to be processed is where you are applying from. The second aspect is the programme or visa you are applying for, and the third is the specifics of your case, including your form of application and whether or not your application was complete. Canada visa processing standard timelines
Visa/Program Average Estimated Processing Times Express Entry System 6 months Provincial Nominee Program (Express Entry) 6 months Provincial Nominee Program (non-Express Entry) 15 -19 months Atlantic Immigration Pilot 6 months Visitors visa Dependent on Country of Application Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) 5 minutes (Dependent on Country of Application) Canada Work visa/permit (outside Canada) Dependent on Country of Application Canada Work visa/permit (inside Canada) 38 days Student visa/permit (outside Canada) 9 weeks Student visa/permit (inside Canada) 10 weeks Student visa/permit extension 57 days Working Holiday Visa (International Experience Canada) 59 weeks (Dependent on Country of Application) Caregiver Programs No processing times available Start-Up Visa 12 - 16 weeks (Dependent on Country of Application)
