How long Canada take to process visa applications from India?

Canada has maintained the processing of visa applications from India. This includes TRVs, PRs, & family-class sponsorship applications. 

Below are the average wait times for applicants from India across five different visa processing streams as of September 26, 2023. However, note that these processing times for visa applications from India are subject to change & can vary depending on the specific conditions of one’s application. Therefore, it is advised to check IRCC’s official website for the latest information. 

Work Permit & Visa 

Work permit enables international individuals to work & live in Canada for the term of their work permit. 

Note the difference between a permit & visa for immigration purposes – a permit allowing an individual to reside & work/ study in Canada legally. A visa offers international citizens entry into Canada via its borders. Generally, permits take up the bulk of processing times. After a permit is issued to a foreign national, they must subsequently submit their passport at an IRCC office for visa stamping if they intend to travel outside of Canada & return as well. 

Work permits for visa applications from India can vary depending on whether one is applying within Canada or from outside the country. The processing times are: 

Study Permit & Visas 

Study permits enable international applicants to study & live in Canada. Moreover, some study permits allow students to work either full-time or part-time during their studies. 

The same difference between work permits & visas applies to study permits, i.e., once an applicant has their study permit approved, they should give their passport for visa stamping if they intend to travel outside of Canada & return as well. 

In addition, study permit processing times can vary depending on whether the application is for an initial study permit or an extension. Finally, study permit processing times can also be expedited when applying via SDS – a specialized study permit stream which Indian students are eligible for. 

Here are the present processing times for study permits: 

Visitor Visas 

Citizens of India who intend to visit Canada will require a visitor visa. These visas do not have related permits, as visitor visas do not allow holders to study/ work in Canada. Moreover, visitors can apply for an extension of their visitor visa, also known as a visitor record. Well, this is not a visa but rather a document enabling visitors to stay in Canada for an extended period. 

Visitor visa processing is affected by whether one applies inside or outside Canada. 

Here are the present processing times for visitor visas: 

Economic Class Immigration 

Economic class immigration spans various immigration programs. These include Express Entry programs, like FSTP, FSWP, & CEC, along with immigration pathways within PNP, which vary from province to province. 

This line of business also includes the Atlantic Immigration Program, Self-Employed Persons Program, Start-Up Visa, pathway for caregivers, & Quebec immigration streams. 

Applicants who are approved for these programs are offered Canadian PR upon their arrival. 

Here are the processing times for economic class immigration: 

Family Sponsorship Immigration 

Canadian citizens & permanent residents of Indian origin intending to sponsor their spouses, dependent children, or other family members to come to Canada can apply for programs under family sponsorship. The prominent pathways to achieve this are Spousal sponsorships, dependent child sponsorships, Super Visa, & PGP. 

Processing time for spousal sponsorship depends on whether the spouse being sponsored is presently in Canada or not & if the couple is residing in or outside the province of Quebec. 

Here are the processing times for family-class visa applications from India: