IRCC’s service standard for a super visa is 112 days, within which it aims to process at least 80% of applications submitted outside Canada. In September 2026 the estimates from IRCC’s tool, as recorded by immigration.ca on 22 September, were 70 days for India, 92 for Pakistan, 90 for the Philippines, 77 for China, 44 for Nigeria, 66 for the United States, 91 for Mexico and 72 for the United Arab Emirates. India showed 208 days in March 2026, so the number you see today is not the number you will get.
That volatility is why the insurance must be bought with a start date that can be moved before it begins. IRCC requires a paid policy in the file at submission; it does not require the policy to start before the visa is issued.
What were the processing times in September 2026?
Between 44 and 92 days for the main source countries, all inside the 112-day standard. The United States fell from 116 days on 16 September to 66 days on 22 September, which shows how quickly the estimate can change.
| Applying from | Estimated processing time, 22 Sep 2026 | Share of super visas 2011 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| India | 70 days | 56% |
| China | 77 days | 11% |
| Pakistan | 92 days | 5% |
| Philippines | 90 days | 4% |
| Nigeria | 44 days | not in top five |
| United States | 66 days (116 on 16 Sep) | not in top five |
| Mexico | 91 days | not in top five |
| United Arab Emirates | 72 days | not in top five |
| United Kingdom | 97 days (earlier Sep 2026 reading) | not in top five |
| Iran | 265 days (earlier Sep 2026 reading) | not in top five |
Processing times from immigration.ca reading IRCC’s tool on 22 September 2026; UK and Iran from an earlier September 2026 reading in our fact file. Country shares from IRCC’s report to Parliament. Verify on IRCC’s tool before relying on any figure.
How does IRCC’s processing time tool work?
It gives a forward-looking estimate for an application submitted today, based on current inventory, staffing and expected volume, per IRCC’s check processing times page. Select temporary residence, then visitor visa from outside Canada, then the country, then the application date. The estimate includes biometrics time and is not a maximum or a guarantee.
| Measure | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tool estimate | Roughly how long a decision would take if you applied today | IRCC check processing times |
| Service standard, 112 days | IRCC aims to finish 80% of super visa applications within it under normal circumstances | immigration.ca |
| Historical 80% figure | How long 80% of past temporary residence applications took, shown as 8 to 16 weeks | IRCC check processing times |
| Start of the clock | When a complete online application is submitted | IRCC check processing times |
| Not included | Passport mailing after approval; up to 3 to 4 months if applying through an embassy by mail | IRCC check processing times |
The tool is updated regularly; the page was last modified on 13 October 2026. Applicants whose last country of residence was the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or South Sudan may see longer times because of special measures.
What adds time beyond the estimate?
Four things: a medical exam done after submission, a slow biometrics appointment, a request for more documents, and the passport round trip. IRCC’s after you apply page says you may be asked for an interview, more information, a medical exam or a police certificate, and that processing depends on the visa office and on those extra steps.
| Step | Typical effect | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Medical exam after submission | Adds the clinic’s time | Do an upfront exam and upload the confirmation |
| Biometrics appointment wait | Varies by city | Pay the fee at submission; book the day the letter arrives |
| Request for documents | Weeks | Complete file, every income provider documented |
| Passport request and return | Days to weeks | Keep the passport available; use the visa application centre the letter names |
| Medical exam validity lapses | Possible second exam | Time the exam to the expected entry date, 12-month validity |
How should the insurance be timed around processing?
Buy before submission, start on the expected entry date, and move the start date once the passport is back. IRCC’s forms and documents page requires a policy that is paid and valid for a year from the date of entry; the certificate goes in the file at submission. If processing runs long, a policy that cannot be moved wastes months of a paid year. If the visa is refused, the refunds page shows which carriers refund in full against the IRCC letter.
For India specifically, the swing from 208 days in March 2026 to 70 days in September 2026 means a family that set the start date for a September entry on a March purchase would have been six months early or six months late depending on the month. The India insurance page and the Pakistan page cover the carriers’ start-date change rules.
SuperVisaDirect is operated by Super Visa Direct Insurance Services, an independent Ontario life and accident-and-sickness insurance agency licensed by FSRA (licence [FSRA-LICENCE]), serving Ontario residents; British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are planned for 2028. Designated licensed agent: Cameron Hayes. Processing times are IRCC’s, not ours, and change weekly. Email [email protected] or request a callback, Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm Eastern Time.
Questions people ask
How long does a super visa take from India in 2026?
About 70 days in September 2026, per immigration.ca's reading of IRCC's processing time tool on 22 September 2026. In March 2026 the same source showed 208 days. The figure moves with inventory and staffing, so check IRCC's tool the week you apply and keep the insurance start date flexible.
What is IRCC's official processing time for a super visa?
A service standard of 112 days, within which IRCC aims to process at least 80% of new super visa applications submitted outside Canada under normal circumstances. It is not a guarantee for any individual application. IRCC's tool shows a forward-looking estimate that can be shorter or longer than 112 days.
Does the processing time include biometrics and the medical exam?
The IRCC tool's estimate includes biometrics time. A medical exam done after submission adds the clinic's time; an upfront exam uploaded with the application avoids that. Mailing a passport to a visa application centre after approval adds days at the end that the tool does not count.
Why do processing times differ so much by country?
Because each visa office has its own inventory, staffing and volume. IRCC says the estimate is based on current inventory, staffing and expected volume at the office handling the country. Nigeria at 44 days and Pakistan at 92 days in the same month reflect office workload, not applicant quality.
When should I buy the insurance if processing takes months?
Before submission, because IRCC requires a paid policy in the file, but with a start date that can be changed before it begins. Set the start date to a realistic entry date, then move it once the passport comes back. The policy must cover one year from the actual date of entry.
What if the processing time passes and there is no decision?
Check the application status in the portal, then use the IRCC web form to ask for an update once the time shown by the tool has passed. Do not submit a second application; it does not speed the first. If the medical exam is approaching its 12-month validity, tell IRCC through the web form.
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