Canada’s immigration department has released its July 7 processing times update, and the news is largely positive for applicants across several economic and family sponsorship categories. Wait times fell by one to two months for many applicants, while citizenship grant processing dropped to a four-month low.
Only two groups saw processing times move in the wrong direction this update: Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applicants and spousal sponsorship applicants outside Quebec, both up by one month.
Here’s a full breakdown of what changed between the June 8 and July 7 updates.
Economic Immigration
Express Entry
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applicants saw the most notable improvement this update, with processing times dropping to within IRCC’s service standard.
| Application Type | July 7 | June 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 6 months | 7 months |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | 7 months | 7 months |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) | N/A* | N/A* |
IRCC does not publish processing times for FSTP, citing insufficient data.
IRCC’s service standard across all Express Entry programs is six months. As of this update, 61,500 CEC applications and 55,800 FSWP applications remain in inventory awaiting assessment.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Base PNP applications continued to see faster processing, while enhanced (Express Entry-aligned) PNP applications slowed by one month.
| Application Type | July 7 | June 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced (through Express Entry) | 7 months | 6 months |
| Base (non-Express Entry) | 12 months | 13 months |
Service standards are six months for enhanced PNP and 11 months for base PNP. Enhanced applications in inventory dropped to 12,100, while base applications fell to 103,800.
Quebec Immigration
Quebec Business Class (QBC) applicants saw a modest improvement, while the Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) held steady.
| Application Type | July 7 | June 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) | 11 months | 11 months |
| Quebec Business Class (QBC) | 75 months | 76 months |
PSTQ’s service standard is six months; QBC’s standard is unpublished. PSTQ inventory dropped to 22,200, while QBC inventory held flat at 3,700.
Atlantic Immigration Program
Wait times for the Atlantic Immigration Program remained unchanged at 26 months, against a service standard of 11 months, even as IRCC processed 600 applications during the period. Inventory now sits at 12,300.
Start-Up Visa and Self-Employed Persons Program
Both programs remain at over 10 years of processing time, with no published service standards. The Start-Up Visa inventory rose to 47,500 applications, likely reflecting a wave of submissions ahead of the June 30 deadline for 2025 commitment certificate holders. The Self-Employed Persons Program inventory sits at 8,000.
Family Sponsorship
Outside Quebec
Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) wait times dropped to their lowest point in at least three months, while spousal sponsorship timelines continued to climb.
| Application Type | July 7 | June 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse/common-law partner (inside Canada) | 27 months | 26 months |
| Spouse/common-law partner (outside Canada) | 17 months | 16 months |
| Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) | 30 months | 32 months |
IRCC’s service standard for spousal sponsorship outside Quebec is 12 months; no standard is published for other categories. Inventory: 56,900 for partners inside Canada, 54,100 for partners outside Canada, and 40,400 for PGP applications.
Within Quebec
Quebec family sponsorship timelines were largely unchanged, with PGP standing out as the exception – a two-month decrease brought it to a three-month low.
| Application Type | July 7 | June 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse/common-law partner (inside Canada) | 32 months | 32 months |
| Spouse/common-law partner (outside Canada) | 33 months | 33 months |
| Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) | 65 months | 67 months |
IRCC does not publish service standards for applicants intending to settle in Quebec.
Citizenship
Citizenship processing times were mostly steady, apart from a notable drop in grant processing.
| Application Type | July 7 | June 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship grant | 12 months | 13 months |
| Renunciation of citizenship | 7 months | 7 months |
| Search of citizenship records | 17 months | 17 months |
The service standard for citizenship grants is 12 months. IRCC’s grant inventory now stands at 326,200 applications.
Processing Times vs. Service Standards: What’s the Difference?
It’s worth understanding the distinction between these two figures. Processing times are estimated timelines for how long a given application type may take, based on either historical data (how long it took to finalize 80% of similar past applications) or forward-looking projections (based on current inventory and processing capacity). They’re intended as general guidance only – actual results can vary based on file complexity, application completeness, and whether IRCC requests additional information.
Service standards, on the other hand, are internal targets reflecting how quickly IRCC aims to process applications under normal conditions, generally aiming to finalize about 80% of applications within that window. Processing times are updated weekly or monthly depending on the category; service standards are revised far less frequently.
What This Means for Applicants
If you’re waiting on a Canadian Experience Class, base PNP, or Parents and Grandparents Program application, this update brings welcome news. If you’re pursuing enhanced PNP or spousal sponsorship outside Quebec, it’s worth adjusting your expectations slightly, as those categories saw a modest increase in wait times.
As always, these figures are estimates rather than guarantees, and individual processing can vary. If you have questions about where your application stands or which immigration pathway best fits your situation, we’re here to help.
