IRCC's processing-times tool now shows work permit extension and PGWP applicants an estimated remaining wait in weeks, based on the date they applied.
If you have applied to extend your work permit, or for your first post-graduation work permit (PGWP), IRCC now lets you check how much longer you are likely to wait, based on the date you applied. It replaces a single generic number with an estimate in weeks that is tied to your own application.
According to CIC News, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated its processing-times page in late September 2026. Until now, applicants saw one typical wait for everyone. The updated tool, as reported, covers three kinds of in-Canada applications:
- work permit extensions
- first-time PGWPs for international graduates
- requests to change the conditions on a work permit
Here is how to use it, per CIC News:
- Open IRCC's check processing times page.
- Choose "Temporary residence", then "Work permit extension in Canada".
- Enter the date you applied.
You get an estimated remaining wait in weeks. You also see how many applicants are ahead of you and how many are waiting in total. As of September 26, 2026, about 202,900 applicants were waiting for a decision across these application types.
A generic figure tells you little if you applied last week or four months ago. IRCC's own weekly numbers show the problem: our September 22 processing-times update put the in-Canada work permit estimate at 16 weeks, against a 120-day service standard. That is an average across everyone in the queue. An estimate counted from your application date answers the question you actually have: how much longer.
It also helps with planning. Your employer needs to know whether to schedule you past your permit's expiry, and a graduate needs to know whether to keep job-hunting or wait.
If you applied for an extension before your permit expired: you generally keep working under the same conditions while you wait, a status known as maintained status. Use the tool to see roughly when a decision is due, and keep your proof of application handy for your employer. If you need written proof of that status, see our guide to 365-day work permit extension letters.
If you are a graduate waiting on your first PGWP: the estimate is the number to watch, especially if your study permit is close to expiring. Our PGWP guide covers eligibility and what you can do while you wait.
If your estimate looks long: IRCC says its times are not a maximum or a guarantee, and your application may take longer. Don't treat the weeks shown as a deadline. Check back rather than submitting repeat inquiries, which can slow things down.
Tip
Take a screenshot of your estimate when you first check, then compare it every couple of weeks. If the remaining weeks stop shrinking while the number of people ahead of you keeps falling, that is the moment to ask a representative whether anything is missing from your file.
We could not confirm the exact wording of the new tool or the 202,900 figure directly on IRCC's page when we checked, so the details above rely on CIC News's reporting. The interface and numbers may change. Check IRCC's page for your own result.
IRCC updates its estimates weekly. We track the movement in our processing times coverage, and the work permit line is one to watch given the queue size. See also our work permit guide.
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration advice. Always verify information with official IRCC sources and consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or licensed immigration lawyer for advice specific to your situation.