New figures released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) indicate that visitor-visa applicants from India are waiting an average of 99 days for decisions—the longest among Canada’s top source countries. Super-visa processing for parents and grandparents has ballooned to 169 days. The data were published as part of IRCC’s shift from annual service-standards to ‘real-time’ dashboards that show how long 80 % of files actually take.
The extended queues coincide with Ottawa’s broader effort to reduce temporary-resident admissions and crack down on perceived abuse of visitor visas as back-door work permits. India, which accounts for roughly 25 % of Canada’s visitor-visa volume, has been hit hardest by new security-screening protocols introduced after diplomatic tensions earlier this year.
![IRCC data show Indian visitors now face 99-day wait for Canada visas as real-time processing model rolls out]()
For Canadian businesses hosting Indian clients, trainees or intra-company visitors, the updated timelines pose serious scheduling risks. Mobility teams are being urged to submit applications at least four months in advance and to budget for biometrics appointments and potential additional document requests. Some firms are exploring alternatives such as conducting training in third-country hubs (e.g., Dubai, Singapore) or leveraging Canada’s Business Visitor exemptions where possible.
Immigration lawyers stress that the average figures mask significant variability: files with prior travel history and strong financial ties can still be approved in under six weeks, while first-time travellers may wait longer than the published 99-day median. Stakeholders are calling on IRCC to publish country-specific refusal rates and reasons to improve transparency.
The extended queues coincide with Ottawa’s broader effort to reduce temporary-resident admissions and crack down on perceived abuse of visitor visas as back-door work permits. India, which accounts for roughly 25 % of Canada’s visitor-visa volume, has been hit hardest by new security-screening protocols introduced after diplomatic tensions earlier this year.
For Canadian businesses hosting Indian clients, trainees or intra-company visitors, the updated timelines pose serious scheduling risks. Mobility teams are being urged to submit applications at least four months in advance and to budget for biometrics appointments and potential additional document requests. Some firms are exploring alternatives such as conducting training in third-country hubs (e.g., Dubai, Singapore) or leveraging Canada’s Business Visitor exemptions where possible.
Immigration lawyers stress that the average figures mask significant variability: files with prior travel history and strong financial ties can still be approved in under six weeks, while first-time travellers may wait longer than the published 99-day median. Stakeholders are calling on IRCC to publish country-specific refusal rates and reasons to improve transparency.
