Immigrating to Canada in 2025
Foreign nationals often inquire about the timeline for immigrating to Canada. Each type of visa comes with its own processing time and application procedure.
The processing duration for Canadian visas is the period taken by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to review your application from when it is received. This timeframe is also referred to as CIC or IRCC processing times.
Average Processing Times for Applications
- Express Entry: 6 months or less
- Canada PR Card: 34 days
- Canada PR Renewal: 2 months
- Canada Work Permit: 5 weeks - 36 months
- LMIA: 8 - 76 days
- Canada Student Visa: 8 - 17 weeks
- Canadian Citizenship: 8 - 24 months
- Canadian Visitor Visa: 10 - 27 days (while inside Canada) and 2 – 8 months (while outside Canada)
- Canada Spousal Sponsorship: 13 - 17 months
- Super Visa: 4 - 6 months
- Post-Graduate: 2 - 6 months
How to Immigrate to Canada
Every Canadian immigration program has its own distinct eligibility criteria. Before applying, ensure you fulfill the requirements for the specific program that interests you. Common requirements might include:
- Applicants must be 18 or older for economic immigration programs. Those between the ages of 25 and 35 receive the highest points
- Proficiency in English or French, depending on your preferred settlement region
- Minimum of senior secondary education
- Minimum of one year of relevant work experience (for economic programs). Specific programs may require more
- Meet the minimum points requirement on the CRS
- Settlement funds of at least 13,757 CAD for a single applicant in the Express Entry Program
- Clean criminal record
- Connections to Canada
Family Sponsorship
Canada encourages family reunification, enabling permanent residents and citizens who are 18 or older to sponsor their dependent family members for immigration. This makes family sponsorship one of the simplest routes to migrate to Canada. Eligible family members for sponsorship are as follows:
- Spouse or common-law partner
- Unmarried conjugal partner
- Dependent children under 22 years who are neither married nor in a common-law partnership
- Children above 22 years who are financially dependent due to a physical or mental disability
- Parents and grandparents
- Orphaned siblings and close relatives
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
Canada’s thirteen provinces and territories have diverse populations and unique labour force requirements. To address local labour demands, each province can nominate foreign skilled workers for permanent residency. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is one of the most sought-after pathways for immigration to Canada. Additionally, it provides a more accessible migration option for individuals with lower CRS scores.
Every province presents various PNPs, each with its own eligibility criteria and requirements tailored to its specific labour market and Occupation in Demand (OID). Gaining permanent residency through this route necessitates living and working in the province that nominated you.
Express Entry (EE) System
The Express Entry system is Canada’s leading immigration route for skilled professionals. More than 100,000 foreign workers annually secure permanent residency in Canada through Express Entry. This points-based framework evaluates applicants by assigning scores based on essential selection factors, including age, education, work experience, and language proficiency.
There are three streams of immigration programs under the EE system:
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program: For skilled workers who meet specific education, job experience, and language requirements.
- Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Program: For skilled tradespersons with Canadian job offers or valid certificate qualifications.
- Canadian Experience Class: For people with at least three years of Canadian work experience.
Business Immigration
If you’re a business owner, Canada provides accessible immigration pathways, including several programs for investors, entrepreneurs, and self-employed individuals at both federal and provincial levels. These programs grant permanent residency to those wishing to start a business and contribute to economic development. To qualify for a Start-up Visa, your idea must be innovative, globally competitive, and create jobs for Canadians. Support from an approved designated organization and sufficient startup funds are required.
LMIA Work Route (Immigrate with a job offer)
A Canadian job offer provides a straightforward path to migrating to Canada. Upon receiving this offer, you can apply for a Work visa, but your employer must secure a positive LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) for it to be valid. An LMIA evaluates the need to hire a foreign worker for a position in Canada, confirming the necessity of your employment and validating the job offer.
Working in Canada
To work in Canada, foreign nationals and non-permanent residents must obtain a work permit. There are three types of work permits:
- Closed or Employer-specific work permit: This permit is for foreign workers with an LMIA job offer. Holders can only work for the employer listed on the application and may need to leave Canada upon expiration.
- Bridging open work permit: A temporary permit that enables you to work while awaiting the outcome of your permanent residence application.
- Open work permit: This permit enables you to be employed by any qualified employer in Canada. It is granted to foreign graduates from Canadian Designated Learning Institutes (DLIs) and the sponsored spouses of individuals holding work or study permits.
Requirements for Canadian Work Permit
Aside from meeting the requirements for an LMIA job offer and receiving an employment contract, you must meet the following criteria to qualify for a work permit. You must:
- Prove that you’ll leave Canada at the expiration of your permit.
- Prove that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and dependent family members in Canada.
- Have a clean criminal background record.
- Be medically fit. You may be required to undergo a medical examination.
- Prove that you’re coming to work for an eligible employer.
- Provide relevant supporting documents that prove your eligibility to enter Canada.
What is the processing time for a Canadian passport?
Passport application processing times depend on the submission method and the request's urgency. Below are the processing times for passport applications submitted in Canada:
- 10 business days (for applications submitted in person at a passport office)
- 20 business days (for applications submitted in person at a Service Canada service point)
- 20 business days (for applications submitted by mail)
When requesting urgent or expedited service at a passport office, your application might be processed by the end of the next working day or could take up to nine business days. If you reside in the United States, you can submit your application by mail or in person at the closest passport office or Service Canada location in Canada. For mail applications from the U.S., expect a processing time of 20 business days.
All passport applications submitted from locations outside Canada and the U.S. may take as long as 20 business days to process. Applicants outside Canada can submit their applications at the nearest Canadian government office, such as an embassy or consulate.
Why do certain application processing times fluctuate while others do not?
The number of applications received for each program influences processing timelines. When the applicant count for a particular program stays the same, the processing times also remain stable. If applications vary throughout the year, processing durations will adjust accordingly to these changes.
