Nigerians planning to study, visit or reunite with family members in Canada may now have to wait longer for their applications to be processed following the latest update from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, IRCC.
The department’s temporary residence processing-time estimates, updated on September 16, 2026, show that processing times for several categories of applications submitted from Nigeria have increased.
For Nigerian applicants seeking study permits, the estimated processing time increased from nine weeks to 10 weeks. The estimated waiting period for visitor visa applications also rose from 84 days to 87 days.
The latest figures were reported by CIC News following IRCC’s weekly update and reflect the estimated time required to process applications based on current conditions.
The changes are particularly relevant to Nigerians planning to travel to Canada for academic programmes, tourism, family visits, business-related trips and other temporary purposes.
The increase in the study permit processing estimate means Nigerian students applying from outside Canada should now allow approximately 10 weeks for their applications to be processed, although individual cases may take either less or more time.
IRCC’s figures show that Nigeria was among the countries where study permit processing times increased in the September 16 update. The estimate for applications submitted from within Canada also increased, moving from seven to eight weeks.
However, the processing estimates for applicants from India, Pakistan, the United States and the Philippines remained unchanged in the latest update.
The Canadian government advises prospective international students to apply for a study permit before travelling to Canada. Applicants generally need a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution and, depending on their circumstances, a provincial or territorial attestation letter.
IRCC also notes that a study permit is not itself a travel document. Depending on the applicant’s nationality, a visitor visa or electronic travel authorisation may also be required for entry into Canada. (IRCC)
The estimated processing time for visitor visa applications submitted from Nigeria increased by three days, from 84 days to 87 days.
Visitor visas are used by people travelling to Canada temporarily for purposes such as tourism, visiting family or friends and certain business activities.
IRCC said processing times can vary depending on several factors, including the volume of applications in its inventory and the complexity of individual cases.
Applicants may also experience longer processing periods if immigration officials request additional documents or require an interview, medical examination or police certificate.
The latest figures show that the increase was not limited to Nigeria. Applicants from Pakistan saw their visitor visa estimate rise from 73 to 75 days, while India’s estimate fell from 31 to 29 days. The estimate for applicants in the United States declined from 18 to 16 days, while that for the Philippines increased from 19 to 21 days. (CIC News)
Nigerians applying for super visas also experienced a modest increase in estimated processing time.
The processing estimate for Nigerian super visa applications rose from 44 days to 46 days.
A super visa allows eligible parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to visit Canada for extended periods. IRCC’s latest figures showed more significant movements for some other countries, particularly the United States, where the estimate increased from 66 days to 116 days.
Pakistan, however, recorded a substantial decline, with its super visa estimate falling from 132 days to 95 days.
While study permits, visitor visas and super visas recorded increases for Nigerian applicants, the estimated processing time for work permits remained unchanged at 10 weeks.
This means Nigerians applying for Canadian work permits continue to face the same estimated waiting period as in the previous update.
IRCC updates temporary residence processing estimates regularly, meaning applicants should check the department’s online processing-time tool before making travel or academic arrangements based on an earlier estimate.
IRCC stresses that its published processing times are estimates rather than fixed deadlines.
The department explains that processing-time estimates are intended to indicate how long a newly submitted application may take to reach a final decision. They should not be interpreted as guarantees or maximum processing periods.
Depending on the application category, IRCC calculates estimates using historical processing data or by considering factors such as the number of applications in its inventory and available processing resources.
The department also distinguishes processing times from service standards. Service standards are internal performance targets indicating how quickly IRCC aims to process applications under normal circumstances, while processing-time estimates reflect the expected time for applications under current conditions.
For Nigerian applicants, the latest changes mean that prospective students and visitors should factor the updated timelines into their travel and academic plans.
Those planning to commence studies in Canada may need to submit applications well ahead of their intended resumption dates, while visitors should avoid making arrangements that depend on receiving a visa within the previous 84-day estimate.
The latest update is scheduled to be followed by another IRCC processing-time refresh, as the department normally updates temporary residence estimates weekly. (
For applicants, the key figures as of September 16 are therefore 10 weeks for study permits, 10 weeks for work permits, 87 days for visitor visas and 46 days for super visas when applying from Nigeria.
Applicants are advised to rely on the latest IRCC estimates rather than older figures and to ensure that all required documents are complete when applications are submitted, since additional requests or case-specific checks can affect the actual processing period.
