Average Processing Times

(Updated: April 2009)

Temporary Residence Applications

Temporary Resident Visa (Visitor Visa)

Approximately 10 to 15 working days from the time the application is received at our office. Please be aware that processing delays may occur if a medical examination, an interview or additional documents are required.

It is recommended to submit the application 2 months before the intended departure date.

For those residing within Metro Manila: please allow 2 days for delivery of the application to our office and 2 days for the return delivery of the application results.

For those residing outside Metro Manila: please allow 3 days for delivery of the application to our office and 3 days for the return delivery of the application results.

Temporary Resident Visa (Study Permit)

A decision will normally be rendered within 3 working days. Please be aware that processing delays may occur if a medical examination, an interview or additional documents are required.

It is recommended to submit the application 2 months before the intended departure date.

Temporary Work Permit

As of the updating of this message, processing time was approximately 8 weeks.

Please note that processing times quoted are accurate at the time of publishing. It is an average range and individual case processing times may be longer due to medical follow-up, missing, incomplete or inaccurate documentation or if an interview is required. You are asked to refrain from making any representations on a case if it still within the above average processing time.

Live-in Caregiver Work Permit

The current processing time from receipt of a completed application is 12 to 18 months.

Travel Document for permanent resident

A decision will normally be rendered within 3 working days. Please be aware that processing delays may occur if an interview or additional documents are required.

Permanent Residence Applications

Spouses/Common-law Partners/Dependant Children

Within 6 months from receipt of a completed application from the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (Canada).

Please be aware that processing delays may occur if further medical examination, an interview or additional documents are required.

Parents/Grandparents/Other Relatives (R117(1)(h))

Our office is now processing applications submitted in early 2008. The average processing time is from 19 to 24 months but can be longer for example in cases where there are complex medical conditions.  Sponsors who wish to know whether or not their parents’ or grandparents’ application will be processed this year should refer to the date of our Acknowledgement of Receipt for the Permanent resident application, and not the date the Sponsorship application was sent to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (Canada).

Dependants of Live-in Caregivers

The current processing time is 15 months from receipt, at our office, of a completed application from the dependants in the Philippines. Note that finalization of the file depends on finalization of the one in Canada. Overall process can be expected to take a total of 22 months from the date the Caregiver obtains an approval-in-principle from the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville (Canada).

Skilled Workers, Entrepreneurs and Self-Employed

Applications can be expected to be reviewed only 48 months (four years) from the date we acknowledge receipt of a complete application. 80 % of the cases are currently being completed within 62 months. For new applications, a letter acknowledging receipt will be sent within four (4) to six (6) months from the date the application is received, including a receipt for the processing fees.

Investors

Currently 80% of cases in this category are completed within 14 months but applicants should be aware that Manila already has sufficient inventory to exceed its 2008 target and therefore applications submitted after September 2006 will unlikely be reviewed until 2009 at the earliest.

Provincial Nominees

Due to the significant recent growth in this immigration category, 60% of provincial nominee applications are finalized within 8 months.

Provincial nominees should normally submit a Permanent Residence application only. Temporary Work Permit applications should not be submitted simultaneously unless the Canadian employer immediately requires the nominee’s presence in Canada. Dual applications (Temporary Work Permit and Permanent Resident Visa) contribute to lengthy processing times and may cause a duplication of fees and medical exams.

Please note that previous information or letters from our office concerning expected or future processing times are no longer valid.

We recommend you do not send any correspondence to our office during the periods of time shown above to request a case status update, as we will be unable to respond.

However, we invite you to contact this office as early as possible if there are changes to your personal particulars, including change of address, marital status or family composition.

In planning for their departure for Canada, applicants should not make any final commitments, such as selling assets or terminating employment, until they have received their Permanent Resident Visas.

Find statistical information on the length of time required to finalize applications in Manila in past years.