Canada's IRCC Processing Times Take a Sharp Turn in September 2026: Citizenship Certificate Hits 33 Months, Caregiver PR Reaches 76 Months

OTTAWA, September 6, 2026 — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released its September 2026 processing time data on September 2–3, revealing dramatic shifts across multiple immigration streams. From a staggering eight-month jump in citizenship certificate wait times to a historic 76-month estimate for caregiver permanent residence, the latest figures paint a complex picture of Canada's immigration landscape.

The most striking change is in the processing time for a proof of Canadian citizenship certificate, which has surged to 33 months—a sharp increase of eight months from August's 25-month estimate. This means new applicants can now expect a decision around mid-2029. The application queue has also grown, with approximately 136,000 people now waiting for a decision. This marks a dramatic rise from 10 months in January 2026, adding 23 months of processing time in roughly six months.

For those applying for citizenship grants, the processing time has also increased, now standing at 33 months, with about 136,000 applicants waiting.

Canada IRCC September 2026 processing times: citizenship jumps to 33 months

Permanent Residence: A Mixed Bag of Progress and Setbacks

On the permanent residence front, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) reversed its August improvement, climbing back to 7 months after briefly reaching 6 months. The application backlog grew by 1,400 files to reach 53,800. In contrast, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) held steady at 6 months.

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications saw no change in processing times, with enhanced (Express Entry-linked) PNP applications continuing to take 7 months, and base PNP applications taking 13 months.

Family sponsorship showed mixed results. Spousal sponsorship outside Canada (outside Quebec) increased by one month, while spousal sponsorship inside Canada (outside Quebec) improved to 26 months. The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) outside Quebec continued its downward trend to 28 months, marking five consecutive months of decline.

The Start-Up Visa (SUV) and Federal Self-Employed Persons Program (FSEPP) remain stuck above 10 years, with tens of thousands of applications still in the queue.

Temporary Residence: Super Visa Delays & Faster Processing

The most notable shift in the weekly data is the Pakistan super visa, which dropped by 37 days in a single week to 139 days. The Philippines also saw improvement from 104 days to 93 days.

Visitor record extensions eased slightly to 410 days from 416 days. In-Canada work permit processing moved slightly lower from 115 days to 113 days.

Study permits for India saw a meaningful improvement, falling from 7 weeks to 5 weeks.

Caregiver Processing Times: A Historic First

IRCC's September data includes caregiver processing times for the first time. The consolidated figure sits at 76 months, with approximately 36,900 applicants waiting for a decision. This is consistent with previous reports of wait times ranging from six and a half to seven years.

Full List of Key Processing Times (September 2026)

Application Type	Processing Time	Change
Citizenship Grant	33 months	Up from 25 months
Proof of Citizenship	33 months	Up from 25 months
Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)	7 months	Up from 6 months
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)	6 months	Unchanged
PNP (Enhanced)	7 months	Unchanged
PNP (Base)	13 months	Unchanged
Spousal Sponsorship (Inside Canada)	26 months	Down 1 month
Spousal Sponsorship (Outside Canada)	7+ months	Up 1 month
Parents/Grandparents (PGP)	28 months	Down 1 month
Super Visa (Pakistan)	139 days	Down 37 days
Visitor Record Extension	410 days	Down from 416 days
Caregiver PR	76 months	First-time figure
Start-Up Visa (SUV)	10+ years	Unchanged
Self-Employed Persons (FSEPP)	10+ years	Unchanged

What This Means for Applicants

• Citizenship certificate applicants: Expect a 33-month wait. IRCC has indicated that the queue size no longer explains the increase, suggesting other factors are at play. Consider urgent processing if you qualify under employment, education, or family emergency criteria.

• FSWP applicants: The 7-month processing time is longer than IRCC's 6-month service standard. Ensure your application is complete to avoid delays.

• Super visa applicants from Pakistan: The 139-day wait is a significant improvement. Check the IRCC processing times tool for the latest updates.

• Caregiver applicants: Prepare for a long wait of over six years. Consider exploring other immigration pathways if possible.

• Start-Up Visa applicants: The 10+ year wait remains unchanged. Applicants may want to review alternative routes.

Read Also

• Canada Expands Access to Low-Wage Foreign Workers in Rural Regions as Labour Shortages Bite

• Canada and Manitoba Launch $1.3 Million Push to Boost Francophone Immigration – Student Pilot Extended

For the latest immigration updates, visa policy changes, and 2026 developments worldwide, visit: visasupdate.com/blog/category/canada

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