Key Takeaways
• May 2025: Canadian citizenship wait rose to 10 months, up from 8 months in April.
• PR card issuance now 43 days; family sponsorship in Quebec can take up to 48 months.
• IRCC backlog remains over 1 million applications; real-time updates improve transparency but not speed.
Recent reports from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada show that processing times for many types of immigration applications are getting longer. This change is affecting people who want to move to Canada, become citizens, or bring their families. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updates its processing times every month, and the numbers for May 2025 tell a clear story—delays are on the rise. Many people are asking why this is happening and what it means for them. Let’s take a closer look at what’s going on with immigration in Canada, why the delays are happening, and what applicants can expect.
The May 2025 Update: More Waiting Across the Board
According to the latest report, many Canadian immigration processes are taking longer than they did earlier this year. Here’s a breakdown of the most important numbers and what they mean for people waiting on a decision from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Citizenship Application Delays
Becoming a Canadian citizen is a major goal for lots of people. In May 2025, the waiting time to get a citizenship grant increased to 10 months. Just a month before, in April, it was 8 months. A citizenship grant is for people who already live in Canada and want to become citizens after meeting the requirements. This jump from 8 to 10 months can feel frustrating for those who thought they were almost done.
Getting a citizenship certificate—which is an official proof of citizenship—now takes 4 months, up from 3 months before. If someone needs to give up their citizenship, that process, called renunciation, has gotten a bit faster, now at 7 months instead of 8. The search for citizenship records, which involves checking old files to prove someone’s status, hasn’t changed and is still at 15 months.
Permanent Residency Cards: Longer to Get and Renew
For new permanent residents, waiting for their PR card is important. This card proves that a person can legally live in Canada. In May, getting a new PR card took 43 days, compared to 35 days previously—and this was already more than double the 19 days from just a month earlier. This rapid increase shows just how heavy the workload has become for the people processing these applications.
If you already have a PR card and want to renew it, the wait time is now 11 days, up slightly from 10 days before. While this still seems short, even a one-day delay can cause problems for people who need their card right away to travel or work.
Family Sponsorship: Longest Waits of All
Family sponsorship allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to bring close relatives to live with them in Canada. This is one of the most popular immigration pathways, but also one with the slowest processing times. Here are the main numbers:
- Spousal sponsorship (outside Canada): 11 months
- Spousal sponsorship (inside Canada): 24 to 36 months, depending on the province
- Spousal cases in Quebec: up to 36 months
- Sponsoring parents or grandparents in Quebec: up to 48 months
For people separated from their loved ones by international borders, these long waits can be very hard. Some applicants may need to wait three to four years to bring family members to Canada, especially in Quebec.
Why Are Processing Times Getting Longer?
As reported by VisaVerge.com, several factors are leading to longer waiting times at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Let’s break down the main reasons:
A Large Application Backlog
There are more people applying to move to Canada than ever before. At the height of the backlog in late 2021, about 1.8 million applications were waiting to be processed. By August 2024, the backlog was down to about 1,078,300 applications, but that still means almost half of all applications in the system are sitting in a waiting pile. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada receives millions of applications each year, and even with efforts to speed things up, it will take time to get through the backlog.
High Volume of New Applications
Canada is a popular country for immigrants and refugees from all over the world. In 2023, the government finalized over 7.3 million immigration decisions—a huge number. But the number of people applying does not seem to be shrinking, which keeps the line long for everyone.
Limited Processing Capacity
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has tried using new tools, including some automation, to help speed things up. However, there are limits to how quickly people can review, check, and approve thousands of files each day. The government tries to process 80% of applications within set timeframes, but right now, many categories are still above those limits.
Not every application is simple. Some need extra checks or documents, making them take longer. As staff work through these cases, those with missing or unclear paperwork add even more strain to the system.
Better Reporting, but Little Relief from Delays
In 2022, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada switched to a new way of showing processing times. Before, the estimates were often out-of-date, leading to confusion. Now, processing times are tracked in real time, so people can get a better idea of what to expect.
- Certain types of applications (like PR cards and temporary visas) get weekly updates.
- Citizenship and family sponsorship times are updated every month.
- In May 2024, IRCC began showing “forward-looking processing times” for some categories. This helps people plan better by giving a more accurate idea of future wait times.
These steps have made the process more transparent, but they have not made the process faster. Actual processing times still go up and down, and in May 2025, many have increased again.
What Does All This Mean for Applicants?
Longer processing times have effects on many groups. Here’s how:
For New Immigrants and Permanent Residents
People applying for permanent residency might have to wait longer before they can work, study, or travel freely. It also means they have to keep worrying about their status and make backup plans, especially if their current visas are about to run out.
For Families
Family sponsorship delays mean more time apart. Couples may have to live in different countries, sometimes for years at a stretch. Parents may miss children’s birthdays, graduations, and other important moments. Grandparents hoping to reunite with family in Canada may feel like that day will never arrive.
For Employers
Some employers in Canada rely on immigrants to fill open jobs. Longer processing times mean they might have to wait months or even years before new workers can start. This can slow down business growth and make it harder for companies to compete.
For the Government and Service Providers
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada staff face higher levels of work and stress. Service providers that help newcomers, like language schools or community centers, also have to adjust their programs and resources to the changes in immigration flows.
What Should Applicants Do?
If you’re waiting for a decision, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada recommends not sending a second application. Submitting a new application will put you at the end of the line and may actually make your wait even longer. Instead, check your application status through the official IRCC processing times tool, which gives the most up-to-date information for each type of application.
Other helpful tips include:
- Double-check all documents before sending in an application to avoid mistakes that could slow things down even more.
- Check your email inbox (and spam or junk folder) for any messages from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, as missing a request for more information can also lead to delays.
- Reach out to IRCC if you notice an error or need to update your information, but keep in mind that responses may take longer than normal due to the high volume of inquiries.
Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that the best thing applicants can do is be patient and use the official tools to stay updated. Being prepared and following the latest guidance can help cut down on problems.
The Road Ahead: Will Processing Times Improve?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada continues to try and cut down on delays. Automation and real-time updates are steps in the right direction, but it will probably take a while for things to get back to normal, especially with so many people wanting to come to Canada.
While the government still works hard to meet its goal of processing 80% of applications on time, not every case is that simple. The popularity of Canada as a destination means more people are applying every day, outpacing the efforts to clear the backlog.
Applicants can expect that processing times may go up and down in the coming months as IRCC tries to balance new applications with old ones still in the system. Every improvement in technology or new rule will take time to show results for people waiting for a decision.
If you want to keep up-to-date on your own file, visiting the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada processing times page is the best way to get real information.
Summary: Patience and Preparation Are Needed
Canada’s immigration system is facing tough challenges. The backlog is still large, and even as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada brings in new ways of working, they can’t speed up every file at once. Longer waits for citizenship, permanent residence, and family reunification are likely to continue for now.
For anyone applying, the best steps are to send in complete and correct paperwork, wait patiently for updates, and use the resources Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada offers. Families, workers, and students all feel the impact, but understanding the reasons for delays—and knowing what you can do in response—makes a difference.
Processing times will always matter as long as Canada stays open to newcomers. Keeping an eye on monthly updates from IRCC can help everyone involved plan better as they try to build their lives in Canada. As things change, staying informed and patient will help applicants meet their goals—even if it takes a bit longer than they hoped.
Learn Today
Processing Times → The period it takes for a government agency to review and decide on an immigration application, varying by application type.
Permanent Residency (PR) Card → An official document proving a person’s legal permanent resident status in Canada, required for travel and employment.
Citizenship Grant → The process through which eligible permanent residents become Canadian citizens after meeting residency and other requirements.
Family Sponsorship → A Canadian immigration program allowing citizens and permanent residents to sponsor close relatives to live in Canada.
Backlog → An accumulation of pending applications resulting in longer processing times and delays within the immigration system.
This Article in a Nutshell
Canada’s immigration applicants now face longer waits, as May 2025 IRCC reports show increased processing times for citizenship and PR cards. Persistent backlogs and high demand strain the system, despite new transparency efforts. Applicants should avoid duplicate submissions and closely follow updates to manage expectations and plan effectively.
— By VisaVerge.com
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