Processing Times and Security Screening

Processing Times

The average processing time for a study permit application submitted from outside Canada depends on the country you are located in when you submit your application. However, in some cases, if your country of residence is different from your country of citizenship, your application may be sent to the office of your country of citizenship for processing. 

If you are applying from a country other than your country of citizenship, you must provide proof of your legal residence in the country you are applying from in the “Client Information” section of your application and declare it on the first page of the IMM-1294 form. 

Depending on the country you are applying from or your country of citizenship, you may be required to provide additional documents in your study permit application. See country specific requirements here. 

You can check the average processing time for your country of residence/country of citizenship here. 

You can also refer to the IRCC service standards webpage to see the standard processing times for different applications here. This can be a useful reference if your country of citizenship or country of residence does not have a posted processing time or if your application is taking significantly longer than the posted processing time.  

Since November 2025, applicants submitting a study permit application to attend a PhD program and their family members may be eligible for a faster processing time. However, while the IRCC aims to process PhD students’ applications in 2 weeks, the study permit application may still be delayed due to: 

  • Submitting incomplete or unnecessary documents or information 
  • Submitting a disorganized application 
  • Delayed biometrics
  • Security Screening
  • On the ground regional issues

Delays in Processing After You Apply

If you are facing a significantly longer than average processing time, your application may be under security screening. There are some steps you can take to inquire about the reason security screening was triggered, and to address the cause: 

  • Request Global Case Management System (GCMS) notes using the Government’s Access to Information & Privacy (ATIP) online process. GCMS notes are the notes of the officer who assessed the application and can provide a detailed narrative or a behind-the-scenes explanation of why an application was processed in a certain way. GCMS notes from IRCC, and where appropriate, CBSA and CSIS, can also help you better understand the status of the application and identify whether security screening is in progress.
  • Legal consultation and Writ of Mandamus: Consult an experienced immigration lawyer to assess options including feasibility of filing a Mandamus application, recognizing that this must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Mandamus is a legal process that may be used to compel IRCC to make a decision on an application that has exceeded reasonable processing times and is usually considered around or after the one-year mark of application submission. A successful Mandamus application doesn’t necessarily mean that the application will be approved
  • Alternative study pathways: In some situations, applicants may choose to pursue studies in a different country if timelines become prohibitive.

The University of Alberta does not have control over IRCC, CBSA, or CSIS security screening decisions or timelines

Security Screening

Security screening is a key part of Canada’s immigration assessment of an applicant’s admissibility to Canada. 

Three main Canadian federal bodies work together:

  • IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) – leads the application and admissibility decisions. Processing time depends on the visa office 
  • CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) – conducts detailed checks on criminal and security-related information.Processing varies from a few days to up to two months. 
  • CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) – provides intelligence assessments on potential threats. Processing can extend beyond 18-24 months. 

Factors That May Trigger Security Screening  

  • Political tension between two countries
  • If you previously studied in one of IRCC’s Sensitive Technology Research areas and/or Named Research Organizations 
  • Possibility of inadmissibility based on grounds listed in sections 34 -42 of the Immigration & Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). These may include inadmissibility based on security (IRPA 34), human or international rights violations (IRPA 35), criminality (IRPA 36-37), health (IRPA 38), financial reasons (IRPA 39), misrepresentation (IRPA 40), non-compliance with the Act (IRPA 41), or inadmissible family member (IRPA 42).
  • Military service experience
  • Previous employment in government-related positions (such as civil servant, judge, police officer, mayor, member of parliament, hospital administrator).