Work Permit processing time from United Kingdom
Posted IRCC average: 10-30 weeks (varies by stream). Times vary by visa office and case complexity — verify on canada.ca.
Always verify on canada.ca's live processing-time tool at check-processing-times. IRCC updates posted figures monthly.
About the Work Permit
Foreign nationals applying for a Canadian work permit (LMIA-based or LMIA-exempt).
United Kingdom-specific factors that affect timing
- IEC age limit raised to 35 for UK in recent agreements.
- Police certificate: ACRO Police Certificate (£75, ~10 working days).
- UK NARIC/Ecctis or WES for ECA — UK degrees are generally well-recognized.
- Dual UK-Canada citizenship fully permitted.
Police certificate from United Kingdom: ACRO Police Certificate from acro.police.uk — £75, ~10 working days.
VAC locations in United Kingdom
- London (Wimbledon)
Embassy / High Commission: High Commission of Canada, Canada House, Trafalgar Square, London SW1Y 5BJ.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current Work Permit processing time from United Kingdom?
IRCC's posted service standard for Work Permit applications is 10-30 weeks (varies by stream). Times vary by visa office and case complexity. Verify the current figure on canada.ca's processing-time tool before applying.
How does IRCC calculate the Work Permit processing time?
IRCC publishes the 80th percentile of recently completed applications, meaning roughly 20% of cases take longer than the posted figure. Factors include visa office workload, security checks, and document completeness.
What can delay my Work Permit application from United Kingdom?
Common causes: incomplete documents, security background checks, medical exam follow-ups, biometrics scheduling, and IRCC procedural-fairness letters requesting more information. United Kingdom-specific factors include availability of police certificates and biometrics enrolment at local VACs.
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