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Policy & Admin

IRCC Processing Times in 2026: What to Expect

Citizenship, PR card, work permit: how long to wait in 2026, and how to check your file.

Vieauqc TeamJuly 22, 2026

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Once the application is sent, the wait is often the hardest part. Here are up-to-date benchmarks for 2026 — and, above all, how to get the number that actually applies to you.

This is a federal matter. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processes these applications for the whole country, Quebec included.

The method has changed. IRCC now estimates its times based on how long it actually took to process 80% of recent applications, rather than a target. Permanent-residence and citizenship times are updated monthly, temporary-resident and PR-card times weekly, according to IRCC.

The 2026 benchmarks (for guidance only). Through 2026, IRCC was showing roughly 13 months for a citizenship (grant) application and about 10 months for a citizenship certificate. Renewing a permanent-resident card ran around one month when filed online with a complete file, while a first PR card often takes 6 to 8 weeks. These figures move: only the official IRCC tool is authoritative at the moment you check it.

How to check. The processing-times tool gives an estimate by application type. Once your file is submitted, the "Check application status" area (your IRCC online account) shows where your file stands.

Good to know for newcomers. Don't plan a trip, a job, or a move based on a time you read in an article — yours may differ. After arriving as a permanent resident, also remember to give IRCC your address within 180 days so you receive your first PR card. Always check the official tool before making a decision.

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