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Canada Visa Processing Time: Visitor, Study, & Work Visa 2023

Last Updated : 18-Sept-2023

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The time for a visa in Canada depends on the visa type. Here are the processing times.

    Canada Tourist Visa processing time (Visitor Visa): 32 Days

    Canada Study Permit processing time (Student visa): 6 Weeks

    Canada Work Permit processing time (Work Visa): 8 Weeks

    And more

Source: Government of Canada

*Remember that these are typical processing times and could change with new rules.

Canada Visa Types and Factors Affecting Processing Time

The Canada tourist visa, also known as a visitor visa, is a short-term visa that allows Indians to visit Canada for tourism, business, study, or transit reasons.

Remember that the visitor visa only allows you to stay in Canada for up to 6 months. For anything longer than that, you will need a specific permit. 

The Canada visitor visa processing time depends a lot on the purpose of the visa you are applying for, and several factors affect the Canada visa processing times, including the workload of immigration offices, peak travel seasons, and document verification. On average, the Canada tourist visa processing time for Indians is 32 days.

If you're planning to pursue your education in Canada for longer than 6 months, then you need a Canadian study permit. The study permit does not allow you into Canada. It only allows you to study in Canada. You will still need a visitor visa that allows you in the country.

The Canada student visa processing time is slightly longer since it requires more documents, and you might get asked to do an interview.

The Canada student visa processing times depend on factors such as the complexity of the application, document verification, and the workload of immigration offices.

It's important to apply well in advance to allow sufficient time for processing. The average Canada study visa processing time for Indian nationals is 6 weeks.

As an Indian, you can apply for a Student Direct Stream permit if you meet the eligibility requirements. This permit allows Indians who will study at a designated learning institute to get their study permit processed faster.

The Canada study visa processing time after biometrics is 20 days.

The Canada work visa is a permit that allows Indians to work in Canada temporarily. The work permit itself does not allow you to travel to Canada since it is not a travel document or visa.

If you are outside Canada, you will need to get a visitor's visa, which will first allow you to travel to Canada. The Canada work permit processing time can be influenced by factors such as employment offers, educational qualifications, and the current workload of immigration offices.

On average, the Canada work visa processing time for Indian citizens is 8 weeks. There are 2 different work permits for Canada. Let's have a quick look at them:

    Employer-specific work permit: You will use this work permit if you have a specific employer that will employ you in Canada.

    Open work permit: This visa allows you to work in Canada and not for any specific employer. This visa is hard to get; you can only get it if you meet the specific eligibility criteria. 

Step-by-Step Visa Application Timeline

Applying for a Canadian visa as an Indian citizen involves several steps, and understanding each step can help you understand the process more easily and shorten your Canada visa processing time from India.

While the specific timeline may vary, here's a general overview of the visa application process for Indians:

The initial stage involves determining the type of visa that suits your purpose of visit, whether it's tourism, study, work, or business. You will first have to find out if you are eligible for a Canadian visa as an Indian.

Then, familiarise yourself with the specific requirements of the visa category and gather all the necessary documents. Having all the documents in advance and completing them in full will expedite your Canada visa processing time as an Indian national.

If you apply for a Canadian visa that allows you to be in the country for 6 months or less, you don't need a medical examination. But if you are applying for a visa longer than 6 months, like a study or work permit, then a medical will be required.

You will be required to make a medical appointment for your Canada visa. It will cause your visa application process to be slightly longer since you need to make the appointment and then go and get your medical form.

As an Indian, you can only apply online for a Canadian visa. Once you have gathered all the required documents for your type of visa, you will need to visit the IRCC website, where you can apply for your visa.

You will fill out the application online. Make sure to complete the application form fully. You must make sure you have filled in all the required information. Any mistake or missed information can cause a delay in the processing time of your visa.

How to check your Canada visa status

You can also track your visa to see your Canada visa status. To do this, use the Canada visa application status tracker.

On your IRCC account, you can take the following steps to do a Canada visa status check:  

    Just sign into your IRCC online account.

    Go to "view my submitted application.

    Then Click on "check status and messages".

For online applications, processing time starts after you've successfully submitted your application online.

If You Applied Under Any Other Category

You can utilize this tracking tool to monitor the progress of specific immigration applications.

The tracker is available for use if you are applying for:

    Sponsorship of a spouse, partner, or dependent child, or if you are being sponsored in one of these categories.

    Sponsorship of a spouse, partner, or dependent child, or if you are being sponsored in one of these categories.

    A visitor visa (temporary resident visa).

    Sponsorship of a spouse, partner, or dependent child, or if you are being sponsored in one of these categories.

    A visitor visa (temporary resident visa).

    Note the status (in progress, approved, rejected).

If the status tracker tool is not working or is unavailable for your application, you can follow these steps:

    Create or Sign in to your IRCC secure account

    Create or Sign in to your IRCC secure account

    Note the status (in progress, approved, rejected).

If You Applied On Paper

If you applied on paper, you can link your application to your IRCC secure account.

Follow these steps to link your application:

    Create or Sign in to your IRCC secure account.

    Create or Sign in to your IRCC secure account.

    In your account, you can see the status of your application and receive messages about your application.

Trusted Sources

At Atlys, we prioritize accuracy and up-to-date information. We rely on reliable government sources to provide you with the most reliable and trustworthy visa-related information. Here is a trusted source for Canada visa information:

Frequently Asked Questions

There are a few reasons why you may not be able to see your case status in the Client Application Status (CAS) tool.

    They haven’t started processing your application.

    Your status will only show once they start processing your application.

    There’s a delay between the date they receive your application and the date they open and process it.

The tool doesn’t support your application type. The CAS tool can’t see all application types. You may need to check your status a different way.

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