Canada announces new visa processing arrangement for Nigerians seeking study permits

Nigerians planning to study in Canada may now have to wait longer for their study permit applications to be processed.

The latest figures released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) put the estimated processing time for Nigerian study permit applications at nine weeks.

This is an increase from the previous estimate of eight weeks.

IRCC revises temporary residence estimates

The immigration department updated its temporary residence processing estimates on August 19, 2026.

The revision covered several application categories, including study permits, work permits, visitor visas and Super Visas.

For Nigerians, the most significant change was the additional week added to the estimated study permit processing period.

The estimated processing time for Nigerian work permit applications remained unchanged at nine weeks.

Changes recorded for other applicants

The latest IRCC figures also showed notable changes in processing times for applicants from other countries.

For Pakistanis applying for work permits, the estimated waiting period dropped considerably from 12 weeks to seven weeks.

However, Pakistan’s visitor visa processing time moved in the opposite direction, rising from 61 days to 75 days.

Applicants from the United States seeking Super Visas also faced a longer wait.

Their estimated processing time increased from 123 days to 138 days.

Why processing times may change

IRCC explained that its published processing times are estimates rather than guarantees.

The figures can change depending on the number of applications in the department’s inventory, its processing capacity and expected application volumes.

Applications may also take longer when they are incomplete or involve complex cases.

Additional verification may further extend the processing period.

Advice for Nigerian students

The new nine-week estimate means Nigerians planning to study in Canada should consider the processing period when making their academic and travel arrangements.

IRCC recommends that prospective international students submit their study permit applications as soon as they receive their letters of acceptance.

The department also cautioned that actual processing periods can differ between visa offices.