How long does it take to process an application for permanent resident status?
There is no separate “mi” application processing regulation in Calgary: all files are reviewed by the federal IRCC ministry and, if necessary, by the provincial AAIP program. The waiting time consists of two levels — provincial (if you are using an Alberta nomination) and federal. Below are the current average processing times for summer 2025 and an explanation of the factors that affect the speed of decision-making.
1. Federal stage: how long does the IRCC review take
IRCC publishes an indicator of how long it takes for 80% of files in a given category to reach a final decision. In 2025, the picture looks like this:
| Permanent residence program | Average time from application to COPR | Difference vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class | 5 months (≈ 152 days) | no change |
| Federal Skilled Worker | 7 months | +1 month |
| Express Entry + PNP (enhanced) | 8 months (was 5–6 months in the spring) | +2–3 months |
| PNP (base, paper application) | 19–20 months | +7–8 months |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | 12 months | new standard |
| Self-Employed / Start-Up Visa | 51–58 months | consistently long |
| Issuance of PR card after COPR | 50 days | +1 day |
IRCC formally guarantees a six-month standard for all Express Entry applications, but in 2025, actual times vary from 5 to 8 months depending on the category and workload.
Main reasons for deviation from the “ideal” 6 months
- peak application volumes at the beginning of the year and after thematic selection rounds
- Additional security and document authenticity checks
- Incomplete application packages or requests for additional evidence (ADR)
- Changes to the 2025 immigration level plan, which reduced federal quotas and increased wait times for PNP candidates
2. Provincial stage: Alberta Advantage Immigration Program
Candidates applying through the AAIP first go through the nomination stage and then the federal stage. The average time currently spent by the Alberta government on evaluating a complete file is shown in the table.
| AAIP stream | Date “currently processing applications until...” | Average processing time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) | July 12, 2023 | ≈ 4 months | 30 |
| Rural Renewal Stream | February 2024 | 9–10 months (longer queue) | 26 |
| Accelerated Tech Pathway | April 2024 | 9 months+ | 26 |
| Dedicated Health Care Pathway | January 2025 | 2–3 months (expedited) | 26 |
The official AAIP website confirms that it takes an average of ≈4 months to review a complete file in the worker streams, provided that the documents are complete. Once a nomination is issued, the applicant has 6 months to submit an electronic PR application to IRCC.
Why consider the provincial queue
- Limited annual quota — in 2025, Alberta has only 4,875 nominations compared to 9,942 last year, which increases the verification workload.
- High rejection or withdrawal rate (≈ 40–50%), so the actual speed for “perfect” files may be higher than the average.
3. How long does it take in the end: typical scenarios
Pure Express Entry (CEC or FSW)
- Profile → ITA: 1 week to 12 months (depending on CRS and category selections)
- ITA → COPR: 5–7 months
- COPR → PR card: ≈ 1.5 months
- Total: 6–20 months, with 80% of the time spent at the federal stage.
AAIP + Express Entry (enhanced PNP)
- EOI/NOI → AAIP nomination: 4–10 months (depending on the selected stream)
- Nomination → ITA (automatic, +600 CRS): 1–3 weeks
- ITA → COPR: 8 months
- PR card: 1.5 months
- Total: 14–20 months; the provincial stage takes up almost half of the time.
Base PNP (paper AAIP-AOS outside EE)
- Nomination: 4–10 months
- Submission of paper PR application → COPR: 19–20 months
- PR card: 1.5 months
- Total: 24–32 months, i.e. twice as long as Express Entry.
4. Factors that speed up or slow down the process
The biggest delays for sponsoring companies and applicants themselves are:
- incomplete reference letters
- outdated IELTS tests (> 2 years)
- insufficient average Proof of Funds balance
- duplicate NOC code
- provincial quotas that are quickly exhausted
It is possible to speed up the process if:
- you submit a complete package at once (scans ≤4 MB, translations and affidavits in the correct slots)
- monitor the “Background Check” status and respond to ADRs within 7 days
- choose expedited AAIP sub-streams — Health Care or Tech, where decisions are made within 2–3 months.
5. What happens after approval
After receiving the COPR, you must confirm your address in Alberta to get your PR card. In 2025, new cards take an average of 50 days to arrive, although some applicants receive them in 16 days thanks to IRCC's pilot “expedited printing” program. When planning your departure, allow 8 weeks for delivery.
Summary
- The fastest way to PR in Calgary is through Express Entry (CEC or FSW) with an average time of 5–7 months after the ITA.
- Adding a provincial nomination through AAIP increases your chances but doubles the time to between 14 and 20 months.
- Paper (base) PNP channels remain the longest — up to 32 months.
- Strict adherence to the IRCC checklist and selection of the optimal stream, taking into account Alberta's quotas, allow you to bring the timing closer to the lower end of the statistical range.