PR & Citizenship Update — September 17, 2026
Thursday, September 17, 2026
Processing times increased by one month for Federal Skilled Worker Program (Express Entry) and spousal sponsorship outside Canada (outside Quebec) as of September 3, 2026, while Parents and Grandparents Program and spousal sponsorship inside Canada (outside Quebec) improved by one month.
Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan targets 380,000 new permanent residents annually, with temporary resident new arrivals capped at 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in 2027-2028, aiming to reduce Canada's temporary population to below 5% of total population by end of 2027.
Citizenship grant processing time stands at approximately 13 months as of January 2026, with citizenship ceremony formats being either virtual (most common) or in-person, each requiring the oath of citizenship, national anthem, and signing the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship (OAC) form.
What You Should Do
- If you have a Federal Skilled Worker Program (Express Entry) application in progress, check your updated processing time (now 7 months) on the IRCC portal at ircc.canada.ca and apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) before your current work permit expires if you are residing in Canada.
- If you are sponsoring a spouse from outside Canada (outside Quebec), account for the increased 1-month processing time in your planning and verify your current application status via the IRCC online portal at ircc.canada.ca.
- If you are applying under the Parents and Grandparents Program or sponsoring a spouse inside Canada (outside Quebec), note that processing times have improved by one month — check your current wait time at ircc.canada.ca to update your timeline expectations.
- If you have received a citizenship ceremony invitation, practice the Oath of Citizenship in English or French before your ceremony date, confirm whether your ceremony is virtual or in-person, and prepare to sign the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship (OAC) form on the day. Request accommodations in advance if needed through IRCC.
- If you are planning a citizenship grant application, factor in the current ~13-month processing time (as of January 2026) when setting your timeline, and submit via the IRCC online application portal at ircc.canada.ca.
- Review the full 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan on the official IRCC page at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/corporate-initiatives/levels/supplementary-immigration-levels-2026-2028.html to understand how your immigration category is prioritized and what admission targets apply to your pathway.
Sources
Topics Covered
Parents and Grandparents Program Regional Disparities: Processing times for the Parents and Grandparents Program improved by one month as of September 3, 2026, a positive sign after previous concerns about regional processing disparities.
PR Card Processing Efficiency: Federal Skilled Worker Program (Express Entry) processing times rose by one month to 7 months as of September 3, 2026, driven by an inventory increase of 1,400 applications, while Canadian Experience Class remained unchanged at 6 months.
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: Canada has finalized its 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan targeting 380,000 new permanent residents annually and capping new temporary resident arrivals at 385,000 in 2026, declining to 370,000 in 2027-2028, with a goal to reduce the temporary population below 5% of Canada's total population by end of 2027.
Spousal Sponsorship Processing Improvements: As of September 3, 2026, spousal sponsorship outside Canada (outside Quebec) processing times increased by one month, while spousal sponsorship inside Canada (outside Quebec) improved by one month, reflecting diverging trends between the two streams.
Citizenship Processing Improvements: Citizenship grant processing times remain around 13 months as of January 2026, with a search of citizenship records increasing by one month as of September 3, 2026, signaling mixed trends in citizenship application efficiency.
How these topics connect
- RelatedParents and Grandparents Program Regional Disparities→Spousal Sponsorship Processing Improvements
Applicants sponsoring family members destined for Quebec face compounding disadvantages across both spousal and parent/grandparent categories, suggesting the Canada-Quebec Accord's dual-assessment structure is the common structural bottleneck — regardless of the family class category being sponsored.
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