What changed since October 14
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) refreshed its country-specific processing times on October 29, 2026. Every figure we track for Iran moved, and the study permit moved the most: it now shows 30 weeks, compared with 16 weeks in the October 14 update. The visitor visa went the other way, from 90 to 79 days, and the super visa from 265 to 231 days. The work permit figure barely changed, from 60 to 59 weeks.
For PR cards, a first card for a new permanent resident now shows 28 days (was 33), while a renewal or replacement rose from 38 to 43 days.
Applications from Iran and PR cards
| Application | October 29, 2026 | October 14, 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor visa, applying from Iran | 79 days | 90 days | 11 days shorter |
| Study permit, applying from Iran | 30 weeks | 16 weeks | 14 weeks longer |
| Work permit, applying from Iran | 59 weeks | 60 weeks | 1 week shorter |
| Parent and grandparent super visa, applying from Iran | 231 days | 265 days | 34 days shorter |
| First PR card for new permanent residents | 28 days | 33 days | 5 days shorter |
| PR card renewal or replacement | 43 days | 38 days | 5 days longer |
These figures describe how long it took IRCC to process most complete applications in the recent past. They are updated weekly. The temporary residence figures are for applications submitted from outside Canada and depend on the country you apply from; the ones above are for Iran.
Express Entry, family sponsorship, citizenship and protected persons
For the first time we can also confirm IRCC's figures for the permanent residence and citizenship categories we follow. IRCC presents these differently: they are estimates of how long an application submitted now is expected to take, and IRCC updates them monthly. The current set is dated October 9, 2026.
| Application | Estimated processing time (October 9, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class | About 6 months |
| Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker Program | About 7 months |
| Express Entry: Provincial Nominee Program | About 7 months |
| Spousal sponsorship, inside Canada (outside Quebec) | About 26 months |
| Spousal sponsorship, outside Canada (outside Quebec) | About 18 months |
| Citizenship grant | About 12 months |
| Permanent residence for protected persons (outside Quebec) | About 13 months |
Applications destined for Quebec have separate, longer figures on IRCC's page. From the next update on, we will report changes in these categories the same way as the Iran figures.
What this means for you
If you are planning a study permit application from Iran for a January or May 2027 start, the 30-week figure matters: an application filed today may not be decided before classes begin. Talk to your school about deferral options before you pay a deposit you may not get back. Visitor visa and super visa applicants from Iran are seeing shorter waits than two weeks ago, but IRCC's figure is not a guarantee for any one file; a request for more documents or an interview adds time.
If you have already applied, do not send a second application. Use IRCC's status tools and the processing times page for the current figure in your category.