Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has officially launched a new Personalized Processing Time Tool.
From now on, permanent residence (PR) and citizenship applicants can better understand the progress of their applications, including:
- Their position in the queue
- Estimated remaining processing time
This new feature greatly increases transparency, allowing applicants to plan their next steps without “blindly waiting.”
Before vs Now
Previously, IRCC only provided average processing times on its website. Each application type showed a general number (for example, “24 months”), without considering individual submission dates or queue positions.
Now, the new system provides real-time, personalized estimates based on your submission date and application type. The tool shows:
- How much time is left to process your application
- How many applications are ahead of you
- Total number of applications waiting in the same category
- Average processing time for new applications
How to Use the Tool
Go to the IRCC website: https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/
The system will ask two questions:
- Have you already submitted your application? (Yes / No)
- When did you submit your application? (Enter the date)
The tool will then display your personalized results. If you answer “No,” it will show the estimated processing time and current queue size for new applications.
Example
Suppose an applicant submitted a Canada Experience Class (EE CEC) application in May 2025. Checking in October, the results might show:
- Estimated time left: 1 month
- People ahead: about 4,800
- Total waiting: about 17,900
- Processing time for new applications: about 6 months
This helps applicants understand roughly where their application stands.
Supported Application Types
As of October 2025, the tool supports the following categories:
Economic Immigration
- Express Entry (EE)
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
- Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)
- Agri-food Pilot
- Start-up Visa Program
- Quebec Business Class
- Self-Employed Program
Family Sponsorship
- Spouse or common-law partner (inside or outside Canada)
- Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)
Citizenship
- Citizenship grants
- Citizenship certificates
Other
- Humanitarian and Compassionate cases (H&C)
- Protected persons and convention refugees
Tip: Temporary residence applications, including study, work, and visitor visas, are not yet included. IRCC plans to expand the tool to all temporary resident categories in 2026.
IRCC Reform Direction
This update is an important step to improve system transparency and service quality.
Future updates will include:
- Personalized processing times for temporary residence applications
- Real-time disclosure of processing data
- Optimized processing algorithms to reduce backlog and delays
These reforms aim to make Canada’s immigration system more open and efficient, allowing applicants to track the progress of their files at any time.
From: CIC News, IRCC Website