Canada Unveils New Visa Processing Plan For Nigerians Seeking Study Permits

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has declared that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has little chance of winning the 2027 presidential election.

According to IREPORTERONLINE, the latest figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) show that the new estimate represents a one-week increase from the previous eight-week timeline.

The immigration department updated its temporary residence processing estimates on August 19, 2026, covering several categories, including study permits, work permits, visitor visas and Super Visas.

For Nigerian applicants, the most notable adjustment was the additional week added to the estimated processing period for study permits. However, the processing estimate for Nigerian work permit applications remained at nine weeks.

IRCC also reported changes in processing timelines for applicants from other countries. For Pakistani nationals seeking work permits, the estimated processing period fell from 12 weeks to seven weeks, while the waiting time for visitor visas increased from 61 days to 75 days.

Applicants from the United States applying for Super Visas also experienced a longer estimated waiting period, with the timeline rising from 123 days to 138 days.

The Canadian immigration department explained that its processing times are estimates and should not be regarded as guaranteed deadlines. According to the department, processing periods may vary depending on the number of applications in its inventory, available processing capacity and anticipated application volumes.

Applications that are incomplete or require additional verification may also take longer to process, particularly where cases are considered complex.

The latest adjustment is expected to be important for Nigerian students planning to begin academic programmes in Canada, as the additional processing time could affect their travel and school arrangements.

Prospective international students have therefore been advised to submit their study permit applications as early as possible after obtaining their letters of acceptance.

IRCC also stressed that actual processing times may differ depending on the visa office handling an application and the individual circumstances of each case.