How to Check Processing Times and Status for Canadian Visa and PR Applications

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) publishes how long applications are currently taking to process, and anyone can check this on its website. IRCC updates the information every week.

If you want to know the average processing time for your application, click here.

If you are unsure about the steps even after looking at the IRCC page, please refer to the steps below.

If You Are Applying for a Study Permit from Outside Canada

Step 1

Field: Select an application type.

Select: Temporary residence (visiting, studying, working)

Step 2

Field: Which temporary residence application?

Select: Study permit (from outside Canada)

Step 3

Field: Where are you applying from?

Select: Japan (the country of the residential address you declared when applying)

Step 4

Click the green “Get processing time” button.

When we checked on September 15, 2025 for a study permit application from Japan, the published processing time was “10 weeks as of September 10.”

We understand very well how worrying it is when the result of your visa or permanent residence application is slow to arrive. Many of the staff at Shiraishi Visa JP Canada have gone through visa applications themselves. Just like you, we have experienced the anxious period of waiting for a decision. First of all, please rest assured that not hearing from IRCC does not mean your application has been refused.

If the processing time published by IRCC has passed and you still have not received a decision, you can check your progress in the following ways.

1. Check online:
   • Go to the IRCC Web Form and check the progress of your individual application in the “Check your application status” section.
2. Check your email:
   • Before making an inquiry, check both your inbox and your spam folder for any emails from IRCC, and make sure that there really has been no update.

IRCC does not respond to individual inquiries while an application is still within the published processing time, so we recommend contacting them only after that period has passed.

The reasons processing takes longer vary from applicant to applicant, but one possibility is that the submitted application forms or supporting documents are insufficient to make a decision, so the application has been put on hold. It is also possible that IRCC has sent some kind of email, such as a request for additional documents, but the applicant has not noticed it.

To have your application processed smoothly, it is very important to submit sufficient documents at the time of application. It is also very important not to miss any emails from IRCC after you apply.

Because Canadian schools start in September, applications flood in around this time every year, and processing can be slower than usual. Currently (as of August 27, 2025), an increasing number of applications from Japan are taking more than 10 weeks, and there are significant processing delays. If your application will not be processed in time for your travel or the start of your studies, you will need to revise your schedule.

Because applications are concentrated before September intakes, processing tends to take longer. It is important to gather the necessary documents early and plan your application schedule with plenty of time to spare.

Some of you may feel, “Maybe my application is taking longer because I applied myself without using an immigration consultant.” However, having an immigration consultant submit your application will not drastically shorten the processing itself.
That said, by looking at each client’s situation, preparing in advance any documents IRCC may request additionally, and submitting them from the start with the application, it is possible to shorten the processing time.
At Shiraishi Visa JP Canada, we help many clients with their visa and permanent residence applications. Based on past cases and those of clients whose applications were recently finalized, we anticipate that “for someone in this situation, it would be a good idea to also submit these documents,” and we advise clients on which documents to prepare.

By submitting not only the minimum required documents but also thorough supporting documents, we aim to eliminate unnecessary waiting time as much as possible. Because we tell clients precisely what to submit from the very beginning, there is no need for you to research it yourself, and the time spent preparing before applying can be greatly reduced.
In addition, our immigration consultant applies on your behalf as your representative, so any communication from the government after you apply is sent to the immigration consultant. An immigration consultant will not miss emails from the government.
Using an immigration consultant to apply on your behalf is a paid service, but it can free you from anxiety and save you a great deal of time. If you are planning to apply, please consider our total application support service.