Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is experiencing widespread processing delays, affecting not only work permits but also study permits, visitor visas, and permanent residency applications. As of May 13, 2025, in-Canada work permit extensions are averaging 237 days—almost eight months—while international work permit processing remains well above pre-pandemic norms. Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs), critical for many job offers, are also backed up, with some streams taking over 200 business days to complete.

Study permit applicants are facing longer waits as well, particularly those applying from high-volume countries. Processing times for overseas applications can exceed 12 weeks, creating uncertainty for students planning to start classes in September. Visitor visa processing has also stretched, impacting tourism and family reunification.

Permanent residency applications—especially through economic streams like Express Entry—are faring somewhat better but still show delays in certain categories. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams have been affected by high volumes and complex eligibility reviews.

The ripple effects are significant: employers are losing access to skilled workers, students risk missing academic terms, families face prolonged separation, and industries reliant on seasonal or temporary labour are struggling to fill roles.

IRCC has pledged to tackle the backlog by hiring additional staff, digitizing more processes, and reallocating resources. However, applicants are still advised to apply well ahead of deadlines, provide complete documentation, and track processing updates closely. Without faster turnaround and clearer communication, the experitise of an RCIC is invaluable at this time more than ever.