Does IRCC Work on Weekends? Hours, Processing Times, and What to Expect

IRCC does not work on weekends in the traditional sense. The Client Support Centre phone line

and physical IRCC offices are closed Saturday, Sunday, and all federal statutory holidays. Officers do

not review files or issue decisions on those days. The online portal, however, is available 24 hours a

day, 7 days a week, so you can submit applications and upload documents any time.

IRCC Working Hours and Phone Line Availability

The IRCC Client Support Centre phone line is open Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm local time. It is

closed on weekends and federal holidays. If you call on a Saturday or Sunday, you will not reach a

live agent.

IRCC's physical offices and application centres follow the same Monday to Friday schedule. Walk-in

services vary by location, but none operate on weekends.

If you need to reach IRCC on a weekend, the IRCC secure account and the IRCC web form are both

accessible any time. Messages submitted through the web form are reviewed on the next business

day.

For a full breakdown of when and how to reach IRCC through each channel, see the how to contact

IRCC guide on this site.

Does IRCC Process/work Applications on Weekends?

No. IRCC officers review applications and issue decisions on business days only. If you submit an

application on a Saturday, it enters the processing queue, but no officer will open it until the following

Monday at the earliest. Submitting on a Friday afternoon versus Saturday morning makes no practical

difference to when your file is first reviewed.

This applies to all application types: work permits, study permits, family sponsorship, and Express

Entry permanent residence applications.

Express Entry invitation rounds (draws) are run by automated systems and can technically occur on

any day. In practice, IRCC typically conducts draws on weekday afternoons, though there is no rule

preventing a weekend draw.

Does IRCC Processing Time Include Weekends?

Yes. IRCC publishes processing times in weeks or months, and those estimates are based on

calendar time, not business days. If IRCC says a work permit takes 4 weeks to process, that counts

all 28 calendar days — weekends included. The estimates reflect how long files actually take from

submission to decision, measured in real time.

This means a 4-week processing time is 4 calendar weeks, not 4 weeks of business days. Do not

convert the estimate into business days when planning your timeline.

If your application is approaching or past the published processing time and you have not received a

decision, the IRCC web form is the appropriate channel to follow up.

Waiting on an IRCC decision and unsure whether your application is progressing normally? Book a consultation with Amir Ansari RCIC. Amir can review where your file stands, advise whether follow-up is warranted, and help you understand what to expect next in your specific application.

Frequently Asked Questions About IRCC Weekend Hours

Do IRCC officers work on weekends?

No. IRCC immigration officers work Monday to Friday during regular government business hours.

Files are not reviewed, and decisions are not issued on Saturdays, Sundays, or federal statutory

holidays.

Does IRCC send emails on weekends?

Automated system emails — such as acknowledgement of receipt, biometrics instructions, or portal

notifications — can arrive any day of the week, including weekends. These are generated

automatically by IRCC systems, not by an officer. If you receive an email on a Saturday, it is a

system-generated notification, not a decision made by a human officer.

Is IRCC customer service 24 hours?

No. The IRCC Client Support Centre is not available 24 hours. Phone support runs Monday to Friday,

8 am to 4 pm local time only. The online portal and web form are accessible around the clock, but a

human agent will only respond on business days.

Does IRCC update portal status on weekends?

Portal status updates can appear on weekends, but they are typically system-generated updates

rather than officer decisions. A status change from "received" to "in progress" may reflect an

automated processing stage rather than an officer opening your file.

What should I do if I have an urgent immigration issue on a weekend?

IRCC has no emergency weekend phone line for routine applications. If the matter is genuinely

urgent, contact a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) who can advise on

next steps. For routine status questions, use the IRCC web form and expect a response on the next

business day.

If your application is past the standard processing time, you have received an unexpected request for documents, or you are unsure how to respond to something in your IRCC portal, book a consultation with Amir Ansari RCIC. Amir works with applicants at every stage of the process and can help you figure out the right next move.

This article is for general information only. It is not legal advice. Program criteria, requirements, processing

times, and selection approaches can change without notice. Always confirm details on official government

websites or consult a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) for advice specific to your

situation.