Highlights: What is the processing time for a Canada PR visa? 

• The processing time for a Canada PR visa is approximately 6 to 18 months.
• Express Entry Program is the fastest pathway to get Canada PR within 6 months.
• Factors such as type of application, the immigration stream selected, and others affect the processing time of Canada PR visa.
• Canada PR applications under PNP streams are usually processed within 6 to 12 months.

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Why apply for Canada PR?

The Canada permanent residency is highly popular among immigrants in Canada. Foreign nationals who wish for a prosperous life in Canada can apply for Canada PR  via the economic immigration programs like the Canadian Experience Class or CEC, Federal Skilled Worker Program or FSWP, Federal Skilled Trades Program or FSTP, International Student Stream or ISW, Provincial Nomination Programs or PNP, streams for Entrepreneurship and Family Sponsorship.

The eligibility criteria and processing time of the immigration programs for Canada PR vary. The processing time for the Canada PR visa is usually 6-12 months, but other factors also affect it, such as volume of applications, type of application, background and security check, and others.
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When and How to Apply for Canada PR?
 

What are the factors that decide the Canada PR visa processing time?

The processing time for Canada PR might be affected due to factors, such as: 

• Immigration stream
• Type of application
• Candidate's nationality
• Time taken for verification process
• Duly submitting the essential documents like:
• Photograph of the applicant
• Medical certificates
• Certificates of police clearance 
• Passport and other related documents
• Letter of Recommendation or Work Experience letter
• Proof of adequate funds (for FSW stream)
• Other required documents
   

Visa Processing Time under Various Immigration Streams

The processing time for a Canada PR application differs based on which stream the candidate has applied in. Some of the popular immigration streams in Canada are listed below:

• Express Entry System: Canada Express Entry is one of the fastest pathways to acquire Canadian permanent residence. It also has the swiftest processing time globally. The Canada PR application verification process usually takes 6 months.
• Provincial Nominee Program or PNP: The immigration process for the Provincial Nominee Program or PNP is similar to Express Entry. Provinces such as Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia have the fastest processing time for permanent residency in Canada. The processing time for Canada PR visa through PNP is 12 months. 
   

Popular Canada PNP Programs to get Canada PR visa easily

• Nova Scotia PNP: Nova Scotia is famous among most immigrants in Canada because it is the center for service industries. Due to numerous work opportunities in the province, most international professionals opt to reside there. The immigration authorities take 3 to 6 months to process the Canada PR visa application via the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program.  
• Manitoba PNP: The 'Keystone Province of Canada' Manitoba is known for its short processing time for Canada PR visas. The processing time for Manitoba PNP is about 4 to 12 months. 
• Alberta Immigration Nominee Program: Alberta has more than 77,000 job opportunities across various sectors, making it popular among international professionals. The average time for the Canada PR visa application to be processed under Alberta Immigration Nominee Program is 6 to 12 months. 
• Saskatchewan PNP: The SINP or Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Program takes 9 to 12 months to process the Canadian PR visa application. The program invites candidates from the ISW or International Skilled Worker program or Experience Class categories. 
• Ontario PNP: Ontario is the most popular and populous province in Canada. The application processing time for the Ontario PNP is 9 to 12 months. 
• Quebec Skilled Workers Program or QSWP: The QSWP has a different entry process than other Canadian provinces. The average processing time for Canada PR under QSWP is 11 to 12 months. You can check your eligibility for Quebec with the Quebec Eligibility Points Calculator.
   

The processing times for the Canada PR visa are given in the table below:

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Processing Times for Canada PR Under Various Canada Immigration Programs
Sl. No.	Programs	Canada PR Visa Processing Time
1	Canada Express Entry	6 months
2	Provincial Nominee Program	12 months
3	Quebec Skilled Workers Program	11-12 months
4	Saskatchewan PNP	9-12 months
5	Manitoba PNP	4-12 months
6	Nova Scotia PNP	3-6 months
7	Ontario PNP	9-12 months
8	Alberta PNP	6-18 months

 

Since the launch of the Canada Express Entry Program, the average processing time for Canada PR visa application processing time has reduced to 6 months. Immigrants in Canada can move to Canada in 6-9 months after applying to the Canadian Immigration Department. The efficiency with which the Canadian PR visa is processed is one of the reasons why Canada is one of the preferred destinations for immigrants.  

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