Economic Immigration
Federal Skilled Worker Processing Time
About 58,300 people waiting · IRCC data as of October 9, 2026
The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is the main Express Entry stream for skilled workers applying from outside Canada. Selection is points-based: age, education, language ability, and work experience feed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, and IRCC invites the top-ranked candidates to apply.
This page tracks the official IRCC processing time for FSW permanent residence applications — measured from a complete application to a final decision — along with the historical trend.
Processing Time History
| Date | Processing Time (months) |
|---|---|
| October 9, 2025 | 6 |
| November 6, 2025 | 6 |
| December 9, 2025 | 6 |
| January 14, 2026 | 7 |
| February 12, 2026 | 7 |
| March 9, 2026 | 7 |
| April 7, 2026 | 6 |
| May 12, 2026 | 7 |
| June 8, 2026 | 7 |
| July 7, 2026 | 7 |
| August 10, 2026 | 6 |
| September 3, 2026 | 7 |
| October 9, 2026 | 7 |
People Ahead by Application Month
IRCC also publishes how many applications submitted in each month are still ahead of you in the Federal Skilled Worker queue.
| Month | People Ahead |
|---|---|
| 2024/10 | 1500 |
| 2024/11 | 1500 |
| 2024/12 | 1600 |
| 2025/01 | 1700 |
| 2025/02 | 1700 |
| 2025/03 | 1900 |
| 2025/04 | 2400 |
| 2025/05 | 3000 |
| 2025/06 | 3000 |
| 2025/07 | 3000 |
| 2025/08 | 3100 |
| 2025/09 | 3300 |
| 2025/10 | 3800 |
| 2025/11 | 4400 |
| 2025/12 | 6100 |
| 2026/01 | 8500 |
| 2026/02 | 11300 |
| 2026/03 | 14000 |
| 2026/04 | 21900 |
| 2026/05 | 28300 |
| 2026/06 | 35500 |
| 2026/07 | 38900 |
| 2026/08 | 46200 |
| 2026/09 | 58300 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Federal Skilled Worker take right now?
As of October 9, 2026, IRCC reports a processing time of about 7 months for Federal Skilled Worker applications, with about 58,300 people waiting.
Does the FSW processing time include waiting for an invitation?
No. IRCC's clock starts when you submit a complete permanent residence application after receiving an invitation to apply. Time spent in the Express Entry pool waiting for a draw is not counted.
Is FSW slower than the Canadian Experience Class?
Historically the two Express Entry streams track close to IRCC's six-month service standard, but FSW files often involve overseas medicals, security checks, and document verification across borders, which can add time. Compare both pages on this tracker to see the current gap.