Canada’s immigration system over the years has prided itself on predictability and transparency. Due to COVID-19 and various other global crises, at the time of writing the following is true:

It is taking the Canadian immigration department 9 weeks to process a work permit application for an applicant residing in South Africa. It is taking 40 weeks to process a work permit application for an applicant residing in the United Arab Emirates, and it is taking 54 weeks to process a work permit application for an applicant residing in India.

The last time a candidate was invited to apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system under the Canadian Experience Class was on 13 September 2021. The last time a candidate was invited under the Federal Skilled Worker Class was in December 2020. The last time a candidate was invited under the Federal Skilled Trades Class was in June 2020.

It is taking 27 months to obtain Canadian citizenship once an application has been submitted. It is taking 17 months to obtain proof of Canadian citizenship (and even longer if an applicant is outside Canada).

These are just a few of the processing issues and delays that are challenges for the Canadian immigration system today. Before the pandemic, immigration was seen as a critical driver of economic growth and an important tool to address demographic challenges of an aging population. This has not changed in the post-pandemic era, as labor shortages continue and the fast pace of baby boomers leaving the workforce will remain for at least another decade.

A Tax Alert prepared by EY Law LLP, and attached below, provides additional details.

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