Canada Visa: New Wait Times for Indian Students, Visitor Visas, and PR Processing Time
- May 12, 2025
- Posted by: Visas
- Category: Canada Visa

Indian tourists in Canada until May 2025 who are touring Canada for immigration reasons, studying in Canada, working in Canada, or traveling in Canada must be processed with a change of processing visa. Whether worried students impatiently awaiting to enter fall intakes, touring families, or professional families searching overseas, each has their deadline, issue, and policy change updates.
This is an overview of the Canada visa processing time for Indian applicants until 2025, why it is taking so long, and some tips on improving your application.
1. Overview of Visa Processing Times
The Canadian visa is never closed, but highly dependent on the home country’s policy and world demand. Processing for Indian citizens, one of Canada’s most significant foreign nationality groups for visas, is highly unpredictable. Visa class, document valid date, and numbers that the Canadian consulate in India has pending should be noted.
The following are the approximate 2025 average processing times:
- Study Permit: 7–12 weeks
- Visitor Visa: 30–45 days
- Work Permit: 10–12 weeks
- Permanent Residency (Express Entry): 6–8 months
We process all the above categories.
2. Study Permits
Approximate Processing Time (India): 7 to 9 weeks under SDS | Up to 12 weeks under non-SDS
Indian students comprise close to 40% of international students in Canada and are expected to increase by 2025. How exactly in reality you obtain a study permit in India, i.e., either the Student Direct Stream (SDS) stream or the non-SDS stream, theoretically actually does have some inherent capacity to influence your wait.
Upon receiving the documents above (i.e., documentary proof of GIC, IELTS 6.0+, and payment receipt), SDS applicants usually receive a response within 7–9 weeks. Non-SDS applicants, i.e., when one document is entirely missing or some other English language tests, would receive processing within 10–12 weeks.
Reducing Delays Tips:
- Provide biometric information and medical tests in advance.
- Issue Letter of Acceptance (LOA) for Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
- Issue IRCC-approved proof of funds.
Canadian professional postgraduate and permanent resident opportunities make Canada business-friendly—watch your back, though.
3. Visitor Visas
Estimated Processing Time: 30 to 45 days
Indian citizens must obtain a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to visit Canada to see family members, conduct business, or visit and enjoy Niagara Falls.
IRCC, again in 2025, used to have a processing window of approximately 4 to 6 weeks. Even that would be feasible seasonally, perhaps. In the festive seasons and summer months, it will not be unrealistic if a candidate can incur application pendency, leading to processing delay.
Application Success Tips:
- Never, ever, ever forget to mention the purpose of your visit in your cover letter.
- Produce bank statements, home return ticket reservations, and hotel receipts.
- Clean travel history (to Schengen, UK, or U.S.) is a bonus.
A Super Visa to visit Canada and visit your children or grandchildren will take 6 to 8 weeks to process if there is one.
4. Work Permits
Processing Period: 10 to 12 weeks
Canada aims to host world-class professionals, mainly those from IT services, medical facilities, trade, and tourism. The Indian Employer-Specific Work Permit is accelerating, particularly under programs like the Global Talent Stream (GTS) and Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
Processing of work permits continues to be susceptible to:
- Stream of program: GTS support and 2-4 weeks of fast-track processing.
- Occupation in demand: In-demand occupation processing was progressing at a fast rate.
- Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA): Employer LMIA application would be allocated a 10–12 week timeline.
Documentation Requirements:
- A copy of the original contract of employment & offer letter is required.
- Duplicate of LMIA (if required).
- Professional certification of qualification or license.
For instance, if applying for an Open Work Permit as a spouse of an international student, processing would take closer to 12 weeks, mainly if done from overseas.
5. Permanent Residency (PR)
Estimated Processing Time: 6 to 8 months through Express Entry
India is the top source country for immigrants to Canada, and Express Entry is the primary reason. IRCC will focus more on occupation-based draws under the Express Entry, i.e., IT professionals, doctors, and French language candidates, in 2025.
Some timelines are as follows:
- Express Entry (FSW/CEC): 6 to 8 months
- PNP-based PR (paper process): 10 to 14 months
- Spousal Sponsorship (Overseas): 10 to 12 months
Note: Accept it in the hope of receiving your Invitation to Apply (ITA) and mail-in application. The ITA will be released based on your CRS score and occupation.
Tips to Improve PR Chances:
- Retake IELTS, hoping for a good score in case your CRS score is low.
- Have your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) well in advance.
- Your history of previous posts, studies, or status will eventually have to be uploaded to your Express Entry profile.
6. Processing Time Variables
Nobody’s visa processing time is perfect. Some variables will speed it up or slow it down:
- Number of Applications: Indian waves of pandemics swamped the capacity of some offices.
- Final Application: Inadequate or unclear photocopies will result in rejection or delay.
- Security Screening and Background: Over two addresses are therefore even done within the ambit of the duration.
- Medical Exams and Biometric Capture: The appointment will take 2–3 weeks to schedule, but it will be worth the wait.
- Geo-Political and Policy Changes: Priority response re-allocations on immigration, like the Ukraine war or policy changes under trade, re-allocate on a short-term basis.
Ask IRCC’s application tracker to remind you of the application status, or send a reminder email so you don’t have a wait time uncertainty factor.
FAQ
Q1: Are biometric appointments included in visa processing times?
No. When creating publicly posted schedules, IRCC does not account for the time to finish biometrics or medicals.
Q2: What if my application is late?
You can submit a web form or phone in to the visa application center. You can check the status to see if it is already overdue.
Q3: Would it be possible to hurry it up if I had a visa consultant service?
No. Consult only with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or lawyer. Frauds will kill or ruin your application.
Q4: Am I processing quicker if I process electronically vs. paper?
Yes. IRCC also accepts e-filing, which will be pre-processed in 2025 ahead of time.
With the processing time for Indians entering Canada in 2025 finally settled after all these years of uncertainty, they are nonetheless open to planning and peaceful anticipation. Whether you visit to study, change professions, or merely return to be close to loved ones and acquaintances, some awareness of the timeline and paper preparation will be the clincher.
Check it all out later, and then go and do it. Just do it according to official regulations, and most importantly, apply early. Opportunity costs money when it comes to immigration.