e-7175 (Citizenship and immigration)

Canada stands in solidarity with the Iranian people who deserve to have their freedom and human rights respected.

In response to the instability in Iran, Canada has extended certain special measures to offer temporary support to Iranians already in the country. These measures allow eligible Iranian temporary residents to extend their work permits, providing them with continued access to employment in Canada.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is committed to a fair and transparent application of immigration procedures. All foreign nationals must meet the admissibility and eligibility requirements set out in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations before entry to Canada, including security screening. Applications are assessed individually by immigration officers against the same criteria, regardless of country of origin. We work closely with security and intelligence partners, who conduct comprehensive assessments to detect security risks and threats to protect health, safety, and security of Canadians.

In regards to the processing of applications, times can vary for several reasons, including whether an application is complete, the number of applications currently in process, the need to verify information, and the complexity of individual cases. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada aims to process 80% of complete applications within established service standards. At the same time, some applications require additional review to ensure that decisions are made carefully and fairly.

In recent years, the number of applications received has been higher than the number of spaces available under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan. This has led to larger application inventories and longer wait times for many applicants.

Some parts of the process, such as security screenings, are conducted by Canada’s security partners. These partners operate independently from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, which means the Department does not control the timing or results of those screenings.

We acknowledge that there have been some delays and their impact on clients, and we are working closely with partners to address them. Since July 13, 2022, foreign nationals outside of Canada have had the right to access their own personal information under the Privacy Act due to the Privacy Act Extension Order, No. 3. This allows foreign nationals, including immigration, visa, and permanent residency applicants, to request their own personal files and officers’ notes directly from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada without paying a fee or using a Canadian representative.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada also provides applicants with a secure online account that offers direct access to application status updates, messages, and requests for additional information in real time. This ensures applicants have a clear and reliable way to track the progress of their file and stay informed throughout the process. Applicants can sign in or create an account at: Sign in to your IRCC secure account - Canada.ca.

Applicants can also use Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s online tools to check general processing times or submit case-specific enquiries through the web form if they have additional questions, or call the client support line at 1-888-242-2100 (within Canada).