Canada’s immigration system has entered another period of recalibration, and Indian students, who form the largest cohort of international learners in the country, are watching closely. The latest real-time data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) indicates a slight improvement in the processing of study permits from India, now averaging four weeks, down from five in the previous update.For applicants already inside Canada, however, the picture is less encouraging: study permit extensions continue to take around 12 weeks, a gap that complicates planning for those transitioning between programmes or awaiting university confirmations.The update reflects IRCC’s broader shift toward real-time reporting, where 80 percent of applications are tracked dynamically rather than against historic benchmarks.
Work permit timelines hold steady, but extensions lag dramatically
While student applications have seen modest acceleration, India’s work permit pipeline remains largely unchanged. According to IRCC, new work permits filed from India continue to take an average of ten weeks to process. This stability offers limited reassurance to young professionals eyeing Canada for early-career mobility or post-graduation pathways.Where delays become particularly stark is in in-Canada work permit extensions. These now require an average of 227 days, a timeline that forces international graduates, skilled workers, and temporary employees into prolonged limbo. For many, this means months of uncertainty around employment continuity, health coverage, and compliance with status conditions.
Real-time updates offer clarity, not speed
IRCC’s real-time tracker, updated weekly for study and work visas, has improved transparency but has not yet translated into uniform efficiency. Officials cite three consistent bottlenecks:
- surging application volumes from India,
- complex background and security checks,
- and uneven workloads across global visa offices.
Together, these factors create fluctuating timelines that make academic intake planning and career transitions significantly harder for applicants.
A high-stakes moment for students and workers
The current processing climate shapes a pivotal moment for Indian aspirants. Students planning for the September or January intakes must account for shifting timelines, while workers, particularly those navigating post-graduation work permit (PGWP) rules, must prepare for prolonged administrative wait times.Advisers now recommend filing far earlier than previous seasons, especially for those who may later require in-Canada extensions, where delays approach the eight-month mark.
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