Indians now face record 99-day wait for Canadian visitor visas — what travellers should know

Indian travellers now face a record 99-day wait for Canadian visitor visas, the longest among major source countries, according to IRCC data.

Indian travellers hoping to visit Canada are facing the longest visa processing delays in the world. According to the latest update from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the average waiting period for a Canadian visitor visa from India has now risen to 99 days, an increase of 13 days compared to the previous reporting period.

This marks the longest processing time among Canada’s top source countries. In comparison, applicants from the United States wait an average of 36 days, from Pakistan about 59 days, from Nigeria around 27 days, and from the Philippines roughly 21 days.

Why the Delay?

IRCC attributes this growing backlog to a mix of factors — record-high demand, complex security checks, and staff shortages at its processing offices in New Delhi and Chandigarh.

Officials noted that application volumes from India have surged sharply post-pandemic as both leisure and family travel have rebounded.

The immigration body has also transitioned to a real-time application tracking system, under which 80% of visa applications are processed dynamically rather than following fixed time targets. However, this change appears to have created new bottlenecks amid the surge in submissions.

Super Visa Wait Times Stretch to 169 Days

While 99 days is the average for visitor visa processing, Indians applying for Super Visas — long-term, multiple-entry permits meant for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents — are facing even longer delays.

The average processing time for these applications has now reached 169 days, or nearly six months.

Super Visas are particularly popular among Indian families due to the country’s large diaspora in Canada, but the current delays are forcing families to postpone reunions and major family events.

According to immigration experts, the key factors contributing to the increase include high volumes of applications, country-specific background checks, resource constraints within Canadian processing centres, and the added complexity of handling requests from high-demand countries such as India.

Impact on Indian Travellers

The 99-day average processing time is already affecting travel plans for the upcoming holiday and wedding seasons — traditionally peak months for family visits from India.

Travel agents say many clients are either postponing or cancelling their trips due to uncertainty around visa timelines.

Canada has long been a favourite destination for Indian tourists and families. However, this new delay comes shortly after another setback — 74% of Indian applications for Canadian study permits were rejected in August 2025, more than double the 32% rejection rate recorded a year earlier.

What Travellers Should Do

Experts are advising Indian applicants to plan their travel well in advance and ensure that all documents are in order before submission.

Here’s what travellers can do:

• Apply at least four to six months before the intended travel date.
• Submit complete and accurate documentation to avoid rejections or processing delays.
• Regularly track the application status on the IRCC portal.
• Consider Super Visa options for extended family visits instead of short-term visitor visas.

Broader Implications

The delays in Canada’s visa system reflect a broader strain on global immigration networks, as countries deal with post-pandemic surges in travel demand.

For India — one of the largest sources of visitors, students, and immigrants to Canada — the extended processing times could temporarily slow travel momentum and tourism inflows.