Processing-Time Planner
IRCC updates its processing-time information over time. Enter the current figure you see in the official IRCC processing-times tool rather than relying on a hard-coded number on this page.
How IRCC processing times work
| IRCC measure | Meaning | Update pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Historical processing time | How long it took IRCC to process 80% of applications in the historical period used by the tool. | Weekly |
| Forward-looking processing time | How long IRCC expects an application received today to take under current operating conditions. | Monthly |
| Service standard | IRCC's service commitment for certain application lines under normal circumstances. | Not updated regularly |
Processing times can change because of application volume, staffing and processing capacity, completeness, security checks, complexity and other operational factors.
CAN+ visitor-visa processing
CAN+ is an IRCC faster-processing mechanism for potentially eligible visitor-visa applicants. It is not a guaranteed service standard and should not be represented by a fixed 14–28 day figure.
| Question | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Who may qualify? | A person who held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years OR holds a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa. |
| Is a separate CAN+ application required? | No. Eligible applications are automatically processed under CAN+. |
| What if eligibility is based on a U.S. visa? | Provide a copy of the valid U.S. non-immigrant visa as instructed by IRCC. |
| Does a U.S. visa guarantee a Canadian TRV is needed? | No. Depending on nationality, travel document and mode of travel, some travellers may instead qualify for an eTA. |
When an application is taking longer
- Check the current processing-time estimate for the exact application type and location.
- Check your application status or tracker when your application type supports it.
- If the application is still within the normal processing time, another status webform generally will not speed it up.
- If it is over the normal processing time, IRCC provides the webform as an option for asking about the application.
- If the issue involves travel or another urgent circumstance, check whether the specific application has a formal urgent-processing route rather than assuming a webform creates one.
ATIP / GCMS records
“GCMS notes” are commonly obtained through an ATIP request. The correct request type and fee depend on whether you are requesting government records generally or your own personal information.
| Request type | Current fee | Eligibility point |
|---|---|---|
| Access to Information Act | $5 CAD | IRCC says the requester must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or individual/corporation currently in Canada. |
| Privacy Act — own personal information | No $5 application fee | Privacy-access rights apply to personal information held about you, subject to the applicable federal rules. |
Requesting records is not the same thing as requesting faster processing, and obtaining records does not itself change the application decision.
PR card urgent processing
IRCC has an urgent-processing route for qualifying PR-card situations. Simply saying that you plan to travel within three months is not enough on its own; the current criteria require specific qualifying reasons and supporting evidence.
- Serious illness affecting you.
- Serious illness or death of a family member.
- Work-related travel or a qualifying job opportunity.
- Loss or theft of the PR card while temporarily outside Canada.
- Certain crisis, emergency or vulnerable situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
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