Processing Times
- In order to benefit from extended business hours, on site client service and faster processing standards, we recommend that applicants for temporary residence (visitors, students and workers) submit applications at a Visa Application Center (VAC).
- You should apply for a visa or permit at least six weeks prior to traveling, beginning to work or beginning your studies. We recommend that you do not buy your airline ticket before your visa has been approved.
- The times listed below are not a guarantee of how long it will take to process your particular application.
- Processing times begin on the day our office receives a complete application and end on the day the finalized application (i.e. approval/refusal) leaves our office.
- “Working days” are days when the Visa Office is open for business. Weekends and statutory holidays are not “working days,” therefore are not included in our processing times. Please note that Visa Office holiday closures may differ from local holidays
- This visa office will not respond to case status enquiries within the processing times above.
- The applications will be processed in the order they are received.
Please note that temporary resident visa, study or work permit applicants who do not include a legible 2D barcode page as part of their application should expect longer processing times (for more information, please see 2D barcode page).
Permanent Residence (Immigration) Applications:
For detailed information on processing times for permanent residence applications at Canadian visa offices, please see the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website.
Temporary Residence Visa Applications:
- Temporary resident visa (visitor visa):
Find out average processing time for 80% of Temporary resident visa applications (visitor visa) between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012*.Find out average processing time for 95% of applications submitted directly at the Visa Section of the Embassy in the last 4 weeks: 22 working days
Find out average processing time when an application is submitted at the VAC.
- Study permit :
Find out how long it takes to process a standard study permit application submitted directly at this office*.
Find out how long it takes to process a standard study permit application submitted through the VAC*.
- Temporary work permit:
Find out how long it takes to process a standard temporary work permit application submitted directly at this office*.
Find out how long it takes to process a standard temporary work permit application submitted through the VAC*.
- Travel document for permanent resident returning to Canada:
By mail or courier: 10 to 15 working days*
In person: Same day processing in 80% of the cases*
* These are approximate processing times only. Some applications take longer to process for various reasons. For example, the following factors could delay the processing of your application:
- applications which do not include a legible 2D barcode;
- incomplete applications;
- requirement to complete a medical examination;
- background or security checks required;
- criminal record;
- required interview;
- verification of documents needed; or
- any other factor that may complicate your case.
Please note that any of above checks could require approximately 15 additional working days and on rare ocasions more than that.
Completing the temporary resident visa, study and work permit forms electronically (typing the information) is easier and reduces the risk of errors that can slow down the application process.
Once the application is completed electronically, click on the “Validate” button located at the top or bottom of the form and print your application form. This will generate a barcode* page (page 5 of 5). When submitting your application, to ensure your encoded data is captured, you must include the last page (page 5 of 5) which contains your unique barcodes.
*See image below:
Note : This barcode page will not appear if you fill out your application by hand.
Learn more about the temporary visa application, study or work permit forms.
