Canada continues to process visa applications from India, including temporary resident visas for students and workers, as well as permanent resident and family-class sponsorship applications.
Here are the current average wait times for Indian applicants across five distinct permit and visa processing streams as of September 26, 2023.
Please keep in mind that these processing times may undergo changes and can differ based on the individual circumstances of each application.
For the most up-to-date information, kindly refer to the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
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Work Permit and Visas
Work permits and visas are like permission slips for people who want to come to Canada. A work permit lets foreigners work and live in Canada for a certain time.
Permits vs. Visas
Now, there’s a difference between a visa and a permit. A permit allows you to legally live, work, and study in Canada.
A visa, on the other hand, is what you need to get into Canada in the first place. Getting a permit usually takes more time.
Traveling In and Out of Canada
After you get a permit, if you want to leave Canada and come back, you’ll need to go to an IRCC office to get a visa stamp in your passport.
How long it takes to get a work permit depends on whether you’re applying from inside Canada or outside the country.
The processing times are:
| Immigration Stream | Processing Time |
| Work permit (applying from India) | 9 weeks |
| Work permit (applying inside of Canada (initial and extension)) | 128 days online; 47 days on paper |
Study Permit and Visas
Study permits allow foreign nationals to study and live in Canada. Some study permits also let students work, either full-time or part-time, while they’re studying.
The same differentiation between work permits and visas holds true for study permits as well.
Once an applicant receives approval for their study permit, they must subsequently submit their passport for visa stamping if they plan to travel outside of Canada and then return.
Processing Differences:
The processing of study permits varies depending on whether the application is submitted from inside or outside of Canada.
- Inside vs. Outside Canada: The processing of study permits depends on whether you apply for it inside or outside of Canada.
- Initial vs. Extension: The processing times may also differ depending on whether it’s your first study permit or an extension.
- Student Direct Stream: Indian students can apply through the Student Direct Stream (SDS), which speeds up the processing of study permits.
Current Processing Times:
Here are the current processing times for study permits:
| Immigration Stream | Processing Time |
| Study permit (applying from India) | 8 weeks |
| Study permit (applying inside of Canada) | 5 weeks |
| Study permit extension | 75 days online; 91 days on paper |
| Student Direct Stream | 20 days (assuming all criteria are met) |
Visitor Visas
Indian citizens planning to visit Canada must obtain a visitor visa. This visa does not grant permission to work or study in Canada. However, if visitors wish to work or study, they can apply for separate permits.
Visitor Record
Visitors can also apply for a visitor record to extend their stay in Canada. It’s important to note that a visitor record is not a visa but a document that allows visitors to prolong their stay in Canada.
Application Location Matters
The processing time for visitor visas depends on whether you apply from inside or outside of Canada.
Current Processing Times
Here are the current processing times for visitor visas:
| Immigration Stream | Processing Time |
| Visitor visa (applying from India) | 31 days |
| Visitor visa (from inside of Canada) | 16 days online; 47 days on paper |
| Visitor extension (visitor record) | 55 days online; 102 days on paper |
Economic Class Immigration in Canada
Economic class immigration in Canada covers various immigration programs aimed at skilled and business-minded individuals. Here are the key programs and pathways:
Express Entry Managed Programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Stay Updated with +1 News about the Latest Express Entry Draws
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP):
Each province has its own immigration pathways within the PNP.
Other Programs:
- Atlantic Immigration Program
- Self-Employed Persons Program (Federal)
- Start-up Visa
Quebec Immigration Streams:
- Quebec Business Class
- Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program
- Pathways for Caregivers
Successful candidates in these programs are granted Canadian Permanent Residence (PR) when they arrive.
Current Processing Times:
| Immigration Stream | Processing Time |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | 6 months |
| Canadian Experience Class | 5 months |
| Home Child Care Provider Pilot | Depends on time of application and work experience. |
| Home Support Worker Pilot | Depends on time of application and work experience. |
| Provincial Nominees | 8 months if applied online through Express Entry; 16 months if not. |
| Self-Employed persons Program (federal) | 52 months |
| Quebec Business Class | 61 months |
| Federal Skilled Worker | 6 months |
| Federal Skilled Trades | Not enough data |
| Quebec Skilled Worker | 15 months |
| Start-up Visa | 37 months |
Family Sponsorship Immigration to Canada
Canadian permanent residents and citizens of Indian origin have the opportunity to bring their Indian family members to Canada through various sponsorship programs. These programs include:
Spousal Sponsorships
- For sponsoring Indian spouses to come to Canada.
- Processing times vary depending on whether the spouse is in Canada or not.
- Processing differs if you plan to reside in or outside of Quebec due to legal requirements.
Dependent Child Sponsorships
- Designed for sponsoring dependent children from India.
- Processing times may vary depending on individual circumstances.
Super-Visa
- An option for sponsoring other family members, such as parents and grandparents.
- Provides an extended visit visa for family members.
- Processing times may vary.
Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)
- A program to sponsor parents and grandparents from India.
- Processing times can vary depending on the application process.
Canada Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship 2023 Will Start in October
Below are the current processing times for these family class sponsorship applications:
| Immigration Stream | Processing Time |
| Spouse or common-law partner living in Canada | 10 months outside of Quebec; 25 months in Quebec |
| Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner living in Canada | 13 months outside of Quebec; 24 months in Quebec |
| Super Visa (Parents or Grandparents living in India) | 53 days |
| Dependent Child (living in India) | 10 months |
| Parents and Grandparents Program | 21 months outside of Quebec; 46 months in Quebec |
| Adopted child or other relative (living in India) | 22 months |
To find out the latest information about how long it takes to process your application, you can check the IRCC’s processing times tool on their website.
