Federal Skilled Worker Program
Speed: Quick~6 months
Updated 2 weeks ago (April 7, 2026)
People in Queue
~44,100
About 44,100 people waiting
Processing Time Trend
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Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Skilled Worker applications through Express Entry are typically processed within 6 months of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Processing begins after you submit a complete application.
Key factors include completeness of your application, background check complexity, medical exam results, and whether IRCC needs to verify your work experience or educational credentials.
IRCC has a service standard of processing 80% of complete Express Entry applications within 6 months. This applies to FSW, CEC, and FST programs, though actual times may vary.
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Processing times tracked from official IRCC data. Historical trends and analysis by Northy. View on IRCC (opens in new tab)