Indian visitors going to Canada have to cope with an increasing backlog, with visitor visa processing times taking up to 99 days on average, the longest among all major source countries, according to the latest data released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. As for applicants for super visas, wait times were even longer at an average of about 169 days.

These delays come at a time when Canada's immigration system is already under a lot of stress with more than 2,90,700 applicants waiting for a decision on their citizenship. The current average processing time for citizenship applications in Canada stands at 13 months, while delays for citizenship certificates can take up to nine months. According to Immigration News Canada, applications for renunciation of citizenship are taking as long as 22 months.

IRCC Introduces Real-Time Processing Interface

The IRCC updated its online processing interface earlier this year to reflect real-time processing updates, removing fixed targets that it said were out of date.

According to the department, 80 per cent of applications are now being processed in real time, though background checks, workload, and the location of submission remain factors in the speed at which approvals are granted. PR card renewals are being processed in about 29 days, while new PR cards take almost two months.

Family Sponsorships Still Among the Slowest

Among the different visa categories, family sponsorships continue to be the slowest-moving. Inland spousal sponsorships are taking 20 months on average, while applications submitted outside Canada take about 14 months. In Quebec, with additional provincial verification stages, the total wait time has stretched to almost three years.

The situation is even tougher for parents and grandparents, whose sponsorships are taking up to 50 months in Quebec and 42 months elsewhere in Canada.

It is especially serious in humanitarian and refugee categories. Applications on humanitarian and compassionate cases are averaging over 10 years, while protected persons, such as asylum seekers, take upwards of 100 to 106 months depending on the province of application.

These increasing delays occur at a time when the Canadian government is toughening its immigration laws, as new legislation in the form of Bill C12 allows immigration officials to suspend or cancel visa classes by nationality or applicant category in certain circumstances, such as pandemics or widespread fraud.

Immigration Caps and Student Visa Decline

As part of its latest immigration plan, Ottawa has also announced a 40 per cent cut in the admission of temporary residents for the upcoming year-from 6.75 lakh in 2025 to 3.85 lakh in 2026. The new limits are expected to affect international students heavily, mainly from India, who have conventionally comprised the largest share of foreign learners in Canada.

ALSO READ: Why Is Canada Rejecting Indian Students’ Visa Applications? 5 Key Facts Explained

In August 2025, Canada rejected 74 per cent of Indian study permit applications-a steep rise from 32 per cent in 2023-marking the sharpest decline in over a decade. Netizens and applicants link this to a combination of stricter verification after the 2023 fake admission letter scandal, higher financial proof requirements, and ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada.

ALSO READ: Canada Turns Away Indian Students As Visa Refusal Rate Doubles In One Year: Here's What Report Reveals

The stance of the government reflects the mounting domestic pressure on housing affordability, public services, and labour shortages. While officials maintain that the endeavor is aimed at "restoring integrity" to the immigration system, the latest measures have made Canada's once open-door policy increasingly difficult for both Indian tourists and students to get through. Thus, for thousands of hopefuls awaiting visas or citizenship decisions, the wait goes on, longer than ever before.