How are processing times calculated?

Some processing times are backward-looking (historical). This means we calculate them based on how long it took to process 80% of complete applications in the past. We need to have processed enough applications recently to calculate a backward-looking processing time.

In some cases, we’ll show these processing times based on where you’re applying from. If there aren’t enough applications from your country, we can’t show a processing time, but your application is still being processed.

Some processing times are forward-looking (estimated). This means we calculate them using

• the total number of that application type in our inventory
• the amount we expect to process every month
• the number of admissions allowed in any given year according to the annual immigration levels plan

We explain which kind of processing time each type of application uses and how we calculated it. Learn more in Check our current processing times.

Applications submitted online or in person

Your processing time starts when you submit your complete application, including any and all fees, and ends when we make a decision on it.

Applications submitted by mail

Your processing time starts when your complete application, including any and all fees, arrives in our mail room and ends when we make a decision on it.