Canada's immigration department has updated its processing times webpage, introducing personalized wait-time estimates for certain work permit applicants. As of September 26, 2026, approximately 202,900 applicants were waiting for decisions on their work permit applications in Canada. The update provides applicants with a more tailored view of how long their applications may take to resolve.
The new system shows each applicant an estimated remaining wait time in weeks, calculated according to when they submitted their application and how many other applicants are ahead of them in the queue. The update affects two categories of applicants: those applying to extend an existing work permit from within Canada and international student graduates applying for their first post-graduation work permit (PGWP).
Under the previous setup, the department offered only a single drop-down option labeled "Work permit in Canada," which generated a generic processing estimate based on the date of the lookup rather than the date of application. The generic option remains on the page but now applies exclusively to first-time, in-Canada applicants who are not seeking a post-graduation work permit.
For Kenyans currently in Canada whose work permits are approaching expiry, the concept of maintained status is worth understanding. An applicant who submits an extension request before their existing permit expires is legally authorized to continue working under their current conditions until a decision is issued, even if the permit itself lapses in the interim.
A separate temporary measure, introduced on June 9, 2026, and in place until December 31, 2026, gives provincial nominees earlier access to bridging open work permits. This measure allows applicants to the base Provincial Nominee Program to apply for a bridging open work permit earlier than usual, without first having to receive a formal acknowledgement that their permanent residence application has been received.
Canada's immigration authority, IRCC, has outlined three key requirements for Kenyans and other foreign workers to remain legally employed: follow all work permit conditions, apply for extensions at least 30 days before expiry, and request changes when their employer, job, or work location changes. IRCC also warned workers about immigration scams, particularly offers of jobs, work permits, or permanent residency in exchange for money, documents, or social-media payments.
Canada plans to admit up to 230,000 temporary foreign workers in 2026, including 60,000 through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and 170,000 through the International Mobility Program. The personalized estimates now available should help graduates plan around application timelines more accurately, especially for Kenyan graduates of Canadian institutions, for whom the PGWP remains one of the most direct pathways toward permanent residence.
Key points
- Canada introduces personalized processing time estimates for work permit applicants.
- Approximately 202,900 work permit applications were pending as of September 26, 2026.
- Canada plans to admit up to 230,000 temporary foreign workers in 2026.
