Canada work permit processing time

Choose the country you are applying from to read IRCC’s current outside-Canada work permit estimate. Separate route labels help employers and applicants avoid comparing unlike work permit signals.

PUBLISHED PROCESSING SIGNAL / United States4 weeksWork permit from outside CanadaCOUNTRY / APPLYING FROM OUTSIDE CANADAUNITED STATES FALLBACK · CHANGE ANYTIMEUse United States in the full monitor →

IRCC REPORT DATESeptember 22, 2026

ASSET CHECKEDSep 24, 2026, 3:48 p.m. UTC

ROUTE SCOPE / BEFORE YOU COMPARE

Which work permit signal is shown here?

The current answer uses IRCC’s country-specific work permit table for the selected outside-Canada country. Inside-Canada processing, International Experience Canada, and seasonal agricultural work are separate published routes.

Work permit from outside Canada

The selected country controls this table value. When IRCC publishes no value for that country, the page reports the gap instead of borrowing another country’s estimate.

Inside Canada or extension

The inside-Canada work permit signal is a general route. Use the full monitor or official checker when the application is not an outside-Canada country-table case.

IEC and seasonal programs

International Experience Canada and the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program have their own source rows. Their published timing should not be inferred from this work permit value.

OBSERVED HISTORY / UNITED STATES

What has IRCC published over time?

The current signal above follows your selected country. These saved points use the United States table as a reference because country archives are not available for every route. They are anchors rather than a complete weekly series or a prediction.

CHANGE / FIRST TO LAST+14 days across observed points

2 weeksSep/18September 9, 2018 · capture

10 weeksFeb/21February 3, 2021 · capture

81 weeksMar/25March 12, 2025

4 weeksJul/26July 7, 2026

3 weeksJul/26July 22, 2026

3 weeksAug/262026-08-04 · capture

3 weeksAug/26August 5, 2026

2 weeksAug/26August 12, 2026

2 weeksAug/26August 26, 2026

2 weeksSep/26September 2, 2026

2 weeksSep/26September 9, 2026

3 weeksSep/26September 16, 2026

4 weeksSep/26September 22, 2026

USE THIS NUMBER CAREFULLY

Figures are IRCC's published estimates, not predictions, commitments, or guarantees.

The route value is a published service estimate. It does not replace eligibility instructions, application guidance, or advice from an authorized representative.

Open all temporary routes →Open official country JSON ↗Check Canada.ca processing times ↗