Last updated: September 24, 2026 (IRCC data dated September 22, 2026). This page tracks IRCC processing times for the applications people make from inside Canada — work permit and study permit extensions, visitor records, PR cards — and keeps the history, which IRCC’s own tool does not. We update it every month.
Quick Answer
As of IRCC’s September 22, 2026 update, an in-Canada work permit extension takes about 107 days, a study permit extension about 62 days, a visitor record about 393 days, a new PR card about 35 days and a PR card renewal about 38 days. These are not promises: IRCC’s figure is how long it took to finish 80% of recent applications in that category.
Current Processing Times — Applications Made Inside Canada
| Application | IRCC time (Sept 22, 2026) | What you can do while you wait |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit extension (inside Canada) | 107 days | Keep working under the same conditions if you applied before your permit expired (maintained status) |
| Study permit extension (inside Canada) | 62 days | Keep studying, and working if your permit allowed it, while on maintained status |
| Visitor record (extend stay as a visitor) | 393 days | Stay as a visitor on maintained status; no work authorization |
| Visitor visa (applied inside Canada) | 11 days | — |
| New PR card | 35 days | Your eCOPR proves your status in Canada (what to do after eCOPR) |
| PR card renewal | 38 days | You remain a PR while the card is renewed (PR card renewal guide) |
| International Experience Canada (IEC) | 6 weeks | — |
| Verification of status | 11 weeks | — |
| Citizenship record search | 18 months | — |
| Citizenship renunciation | 4 months | — |
For permanent residence programs (Express Entry, provincial nominees, family sponsorship) and citizenship grants, check the category in IRCC’s processing times tool; those lines update monthly.
Applications From Outside Canada: An Example
Times for applications made from outside Canada depend on your country of residence. For applicants in India, IRCC’s September 22, 2026 data shows about 10 weeks for a work permit, 5 weeks for a study permit and 32 days for a visitor visa.
History: How the Numbers Have Moved in 2026
IRCC only shows today’s figure. These are the figures we recorded at each update.
| Application | Feb 2026 | Mar 2026 | Apr 2026 | Sept 22, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work permit extension (inside Canada) | — | 259 days | — | 107 days |
| Visitor record | — | — | over 299 days | 393 days |
| New PR card | 61 days | — | — | 35 days |
| PR card renewal | 30 days | — | — | 38 days |
| Citizenship grant | 14 months | — | 12 months | see IRCC tool |
| Spouse/partner sponsorship, inside Canada (outside Quebec) | 21 months | — | — | see IRCC tool |
The biggest change this year: in-Canada work permit extensions fell from 259 days in March to 107 days by late September.
What the Number Actually Means
- It is backward-looking. IRCC reports how long it took to process 80% of applications recently. One in five took longer.
- It is not your deadline. Your file can move faster or slower depending on completeness, biometrics and background checks.
- Update frequency differs. Temporary resident lines and PR cards update weekly; permanent residence and citizenship lines update monthly.
Waiting on an Extension? What Matters More Than the Number
If you applied to extend before your permit expired, the processing time decides how long you wait, not whether you can keep working. The practical questions people run into while waiting:
- My SIN expired while I’m on maintained status
- What happens to my health card
- Can I travel while I wait?
- Status Expiry Timeline tool — see every date that follows from yours
If your application seems stuck well past the posted time, see what to do when an IRCC application takes too long.
Update Log
- September 24, 2026: page launched with IRCC data dated September 22, 2026; history compiled from our earlier monthly reports.
Related Guides
Sources
- IRCC — Check processing times (data updated September 22, 2026)
- IRCC — What to do if your work permit expired
