As an immigration expert, people who want to move to Canada often ask me the same question: “What’s the fastest way to immigrate to Canada?” There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but it is very important to understand the different routes and how long they take to process.
There are many ways to move to Canada. They are generally grouped into four groups: economic, family-based, social, and refugee programs. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) gives more than 100 different ways to get permanent residency (PR) within these groups.
Each program has its own draw, but for most applicants, processing times are the most important thing. IRCC publishes service standards, which tell you how long they aim to take to handle applications. This helps you manage your expectations. Keep in mind that these are only estimates, and the real working times may be different.
How to Decode Service Standards:
Service standards are usually given in weeks or months, and they only apply to forms that are fully filled out and have all the necessary paperwork. IRCC says that their goal is to handle 80% of applications that meet these standards. Here is a list of some important projects and the service standards that go with them:
Immigration Based on Class:
Express Entry is a well-known scheme that has three sub-categories:
If you are a federal skilled worker, you have 180 days to apply online.
Class for Canadian Experience: 180 days (electronic applicants)
180 days for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (electronic applications).
Note: No applications were sent in for this program in 2022 or 2023.
Programs for Provincial Nominees (PNPs): Processing times change based on the province and the type of entry (paper or electronic through Express Entry).
Sponsorship for the family class:
This is for applications from Canadian citizens and permanent residents’ spouses, common-law partners, children who live with them and depend on them, and other qualified family members.
Standard Service (for computer applications): 12 months
Important: Paper applications or entries that aren’t complete can cause processing times to be much longer.
How Well Did They Meet Service Standards?
Before you judge IRCC’s success against service standards, you should know that it can vary. Here’s a look at how they did during the fiscal year of 2022–2023.
Through Express Entry, they met or beat the service standards for both the Federal Skilled Worker (80%) and the Canadian Experience Class (85%) categories.
PNPs: Only 23% of paper applications met the bar, but 70% of electronic applications did.
48% of applications for the Quebec-Selected Skilled Worker Program were handled within the standard time frame.
For the Family Class Sponsorship, 66% of the applications met the bar for service.
Keep in mind that these are only snapshots and that working times can change for a number of reasons. It is very important to talk to a visa professional to find out if you are eligible, pick the best route, and understand how the process works.
