IRCC’s weekly processing-time update, published October 20, shows the estimated wait for a Canadian visitor visa filed in Nigeria has stretched to 103 days—the longest posted for that country this year and more than seven times the department’s 14-day service standard. The figure stood at 84–87 days in mid-September and 100 days just a week ago. The surge affects tourists, family visitors and short-term business travellers. Nigerian work-permit and study-permit timelines remain at 10 weeks each, but the super-visa estimate climbed to 35 days. IRCC says processing times reflect recent performance for 80 percent of files and are not guarantees; complex or incomplete applications can still take longer. Travel managers with Canadian operations in West Africa should factor a three-plus-month lead time into trip planning. Companies may wish to shift meetings to virtual formats or host sessions in countries with faster visa issuance until backlogs ease. Nigerian applicants are advised to submit thoroughly documented files and to avoid booking non-refundable travel until a visa is issued. The spike underscores broader resource constraints facing IRCC’s Lagos and Abuja offices amid record application volumes and enhanced security screening. Stakeholders hope the forthcoming 2027 budget will earmark additional processing capacity for high-growth markets.
Source: IRCC.com
