IRCC updates show longer waits for PR applications, i.e., Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published updated application timelines for permanent residence and citizenship programs on May 12.
Several major immigration programs saw longer wait periods compared to the previous update released on April 7.
Among the biggest changes were longer timelines for Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications. During the same period, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) inventory increased by more than 6,000 applications, while the base PNP inventory rose by over 2,000.
At the same time, some immigration categories saw improvements. The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) moved faster by two months, while sponsorship applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) also became slightly quicker.
This article compares current timelines as of May 12 with the previous April 7 update.
So, without further ado, let us begin!
PR: Economic Immigration
Most economic immigration programs either became slower or stayed unchanged in this latest update.
The only economic pathway to improve was the Atlantic Immigration Program.
Express Entry
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) once again saw longer wait periods after briefly improving in the previous update.
| Application Type | Current (May 12) | Previous (April 7) |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 7 months | 7 months |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | 7 months | 6 months |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) | N/A | N/A |
Note: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) does not publish FSTP estimates because there is not enough available data.
Service standard: six months for all Express Entry applications.
Applications in inventory awaiting assessment:
- CEC: 60,900 (+6,300)
- FSWP: 52,000 (+7,900)
The growing inventories suggest that more applications continue entering the system than IRCC is currently finalizing.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
The biggest increase during this update appeared in base PNP applications.
Enhanced applications linked to Express Entry stayed unchanged.
| Application Type | Current (May 12) | Previous (April 7) |
| Through Express Entry (enhanced) | 7 months | 7 months |
| Non-Express Entry (base) | 14 months | 13 months |
Service standard: Enhanced applications have a six-month standard, while base applications have an 11-month standard.
Applications in inventory awaiting assessment:
- Enhanced: 14,000 (+300)
- Base: 110,200 (+2,100)
Quebec Immigration
Application timelines remained unchanged for Quebec immigration pathways.
| Application Type | Current (May 12) | Previous (April 7) |
| Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) | 11 months | 11 months |
| Quebec Business Class | 78 months | 78 months |
Service standard: 11 months for PSTQ applications.
Applications in inventory awaiting assessment:
- PSTQ: 24,800 (-900)
- Quebec Business Class: 3,700 (-100)
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
The Atlantic Immigration Program saw one of the few improvements in this update.
Although timelines remain lengthy, they dropped by two months compared to April.
| Current (May 12) | Previous (April 7) |
| 38 months | 40 months |
Service standard: 11 months.
Applications in inventory awaiting assessment: 12,900 (-300).
Other Economic Programs
Two long-standing immigration programs continue to face extremely large backlogs.
| Application Type | Current (May 12) | Previous (April 7) |
| Start-Up Visa | More than 10 years | More than 10 years |
| Federal Self-Employed Persons Program | More than 10 years | More than 10 years |
Neither program currently has a published service standard.
Applications in inventory awaiting assessment:
- Start-Up Visa: 46,000 (-200)
- Federal Self-Employed: 8,100 (unchanged)
PR: Family Sponsorship
Family sponsorship programs showed mixed movement in the latest update.
Spousal sponsorship applications outside Quebec became slightly slower, while Parent and Grandparent sponsorship applications became slightly faster.
| Application Type | Current (May 12) | Previous (April 7) |
| Spouse or common-law partner living inside Canada | To reside outside Quebec: 25 months
To reside in Quebec: 31 months |
To reside outside Quebec: 24 months
To reside in Quebec: 31 months |
| Spouse or common-law partner living outside Canada | To reside outside Quebec: 16 months
To reside in Quebec: 32 months |
To reside outside Quebec: 15 months
To reside in Quebec: 32 months |
| Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) | To reside outside Quebec: 33 months
To reside in Quebec: 66 months |
To reside outside Quebec: 34 months
To reside in Quebec: 67 months |
Service standard: Sponsorship applications for spouses or common-law partners outside Quebec have a 12-month target. IRCC does not publish standards for other sponsorship categories.
Applications in inventory awaiting assessment:
- Partner living in Canada, outside Quebec: 55,200 (+1,300)
- Partner living in Canada, in Quebec: 13,100 (+400)
- Partner living outside Canada, outside Quebec: 51,300 (+2,100)
- Partner living outside Canada, in Quebec: 18,600 (-100)
- Parent and Grandparents, outside Quebec: 43,500 (-1,400)
- Parents and Grandparents, in Quebec: 11,000 (-200)
Citizenship Applications
Citizenship grant applications became slower again after earlier improvements.
| Application Type | Current (May 12) | Previous (April 7) |
| Citizenship grant | 13 months | 12 months |
| Renunciation of citizenship | 7 months | 10 months |
| Search of citizenship records | 17 months | 17 months |
There are currently 321,100 citizenship grant applications awaiting review, an increase of 7,900 applications since April 7.
The service standard for citizenship grant applications remains 12 months.
Understanding Application Timelines And Service Standards
Application timelines and service standards are often confused, even though they measure different things.
IRCC timelines estimate how long applicants may wait for a decision after submitting an application.
For online applications, the timeline starts on the day of submission. For paper applications, it begins once IRCC receives the file at its intake office.
IRCC presents these estimates in two ways:
- Historical timelines: They are based on how long it took to finalize most applications in the past.
- Forward-looking: These timelines are based on current application inventories and expected future workload.
Service standards, meanwhile, are internal targets set by IRCC.
These targets reflect the department’s goal of finalizing most applications within a specific timeframe, while recognizing that more complicated cases may take longer to complete.
CWRVisa, a Canadian immigration leader, promises excellence and tailored pathways for your Canadian journey. Get in touch with us at CWRVisa.ca.