Average Processing Times
Processing times begin on the day our office receives a complete application and end on the day the final decision (i.e. approval/refusal) leaves our office. These are not a guarantee of how long it will take to process your application. Please allow an additional 4-10 days for the return of your passport(s) by courier/post i.e. for those received that way.
The below processing times do not apply to groups (10 applications and more).
Temporary Residence Applications:
Temporary resident visa:
Temporary resident visa (visitor visa) applications require a fully completed and printed IMM5257 form with a barcode validation and, a Family Information form (IMM5645).
- By mail: 4 weeks – not including delivery times (also see ** below)
- In person in Bangkok: 5 working days (also see ** below)
Parent and Grandparent Super Visa:
- By mail: 6-8 weeks – not including delivery times (also see ** below)
- In person in Bangkok: 3 weeks (also see ** below)
Note: Applications submitted without a 2D barcode validation and/or IMM5645 will be returned without processing as incomplete.
Study permit:
8 to 10 weeks – not including delivery times (also see ** below)
Note: Applications submitted without a 2D barcode validation will be returned without processing as incomplete.
Temporary work permit:
12 weeks – not including delivery times (also see ** and non-residents below)
Note: Applications submitted without a 2D barcode validation will be returned without processing as incomplete.
Travel document for permanent resident returning to Canada:
By mail: 4 weeks – not including delivery times (also see ** below) In person in Bangkok: 2 business days (also see ** below)
**These are average processing times only. Some applications take longer to process for various reasons. For example, the following factors could delay the processing of your application:
- incomplete applications;
- background or security checks required;
- criminal record;
- interview required;
- verification of documents needed; or
- other factors that complicate your case .
Applications are dealt with in the order in which they are received.
Note: This Visa office will not respond to case status enquiries within the processing times above. Processing times begin on the day our office receives a complete application.
For more detailed information on processing times for all other categories of applications at Canadian visa offices, including the Bangkok Visa Office,
please see the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website.
Barcode page
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.
Applications received from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar: Interview
Applicants will be informed within four weeks after a complete visa application is received by this office whether a personal interview with a visa officer is required. If an interview is warranted, we will invite the applicant to attend an interview in Bangkok or await to have the interview in Phnom Penh (for Cambodia), Vientiane (Lao) or Yangon (Myanmar) at the time of our next visit in that country. Please note that dates of visit are not known in advance and it may take several weeks or months before our next visit.
Information for Non-Residents of Cambodia, Laos, Burma (Myanmar) or Thailand
Applications for visas for Canada should always be submitted to the visa office that serves the country of residence of the applicant.
The immigration regulations state that an application for a temporary resident visa or an application for a work permit or a study permit must be made to the immigration office that serves the country in which the applicant is present and has been lawfully admitted. Applications from persons who are not present in Cambodia, Laos, Burma (Myanmar) or Thailand will be returned to the applicant without processing.
The Visa section of the Embassy of Canada in Bangkok is resourced to only deal with applicants who reside in our territory. Significant delays are to be expected in case processing for non-residents. An interview is always required of applicants who reside outside of Cambodia, Laos, Burma (Myanmar), and Thailand. Due to workload considerations, you should expect that it could be up to 18 months before you are called for interview. The visa office cannot assist you in obtaining a visa for Thailand and failure to attend a scheduled interview will result in refusal of the application.
Verification of references, work experience, educational qualifications and training will also require considerable time as these verifications need to be done by the visa office responsible for your country of residence.
Persons applying for work permits and who are not residing in Cambodia, Laos, Burma (Myanmar) or Thailand can expect delays of 24 months or longer from the date a properly completed application is received in this office to a final decision.
We will not respond to status inquiries or requests within these processing times.
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