Refugees & Protected Persons
Protected Persons (Rest of Canada) Processing Time
About 77,600 people waiting · IRCC data as of October 9, 2026
Protected persons are people whose refugee claim was accepted by the Immigration and Refugee Board, or who received a positive pre-removal risk assessment, and who then apply for permanent residence from within Canada.
This page tracks IRCC's published processing time for protected persons' permanent residence applications destined outside Quebec.
Processing Time History
| Date | Processing Time (months) |
|---|---|
| January 14, 2026 | 17 |
| February 12, 2026 | 17 |
| March 9, 2026 | 16 |
| April 7, 2026 | 16 |
| May 12, 2026 | 15 |
| June 8, 2026 | 15 |
| July 7, 2026 | 14 |
| August 10, 2026 | 13 |
| September 3, 2026 | 13 |
| October 9, 2026 | 13 |
People Ahead by Application Month
IRCC also publishes how many applications submitted in each month are still ahead of you in the Protected Persons (Rest of Canada) queue.
| Month | People Ahead |
|---|---|
| 2024/10 | 16800 |
| 2024/11 | 17600 |
| 2024/12 | 18600 |
| 2025/01 | 19600 |
| 2025/02 | 20600 |
| 2025/03 | 22000 |
| 2025/04 | 23500 |
| 2025/05 | 25100 |
| 2025/06 | 26700 |
| 2025/07 | 29200 |
| 2025/08 | 31900 |
| 2025/09 | 35000 |
| 2025/10 | 38700 |
| 2025/11 | 42400 |
| 2025/12 | 46000 |
| 2026/01 | 49200 |
| 2026/02 | 52700 |
| 2026/03 | 56900 |
| 2026/04 | 60900 |
| 2026/05 | 64500 |
| 2026/06 | 67800 |
| 2026/07 | 71300 |
| 2026/08 | 74500 |
| 2026/09 | 77600 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Protected Persons (Rest of Canada) take right now?
As of October 9, 2026, IRCC reports a processing time of about 13 months for Protected Persons (Rest of Canada) applications, with about 77,600 people waiting.
When can a protected person apply for permanent residence?
As soon as the positive IRB decision or PRRA result is issued. Immediate family members abroad can be included in the application and processed concurrently.
Can protected persons travel while waiting for PR?
Travel on a national passport risks being seen as reavailing of home-country protection. Protected persons who must travel generally use a Canadian refugee travel document — and should avoid the country they fled.