Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its online processing-time tracker, pushing the standard study-permit timeline for India back to 8–12 weeks—one week longer than last month. The Student Direct Stream (SDS) remains faster, with straightforward files often cleared in about 20 days, but applicants relying on the regular channel face a tighter countdown to September-intake reporting deadlines. India is one of Canada’s top three source markets for international students, and high application volumes mean backlogs swell during May–August. Biometrics appointments at VFS centres in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad can add one to three weeks, IRCC warned. The update also lists current timelines for work-permit applicants outside Canada (nine weeks) and visitor visas (21 days). Permanent-resident card issuance sits at 41 days, while citizenship certificates take about 19 months. IRCC emphasises that estimates are forward-looking projections based on current inventories and monthly processing capacity. For Indian education advisers and university international offices, the new figures necessitate earlier document-submission deadlines and contingency planning for late-arriving students. Sponsors should budget extra time for Guaranteed Investment Certificates and upfront medicals required under SDS. Indian corporates sponsoring employees for Canadian up-skilling programmes should re-visit mobility timelines, while students yet to secure visas are being advised to consider January 2027 intakes or online commencement options to avoid travel disruptions.
Source: The Indian Express
