Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made notable progress in reducing its application backlog, achieving a total of 892,100 pending applications as of January 31, 2025. This marks a 5.33% decrease from the 942,300 applications reported at the end of December 2024. The following table illustrates the downward trend in the backlog over the past six months:
| Month | Immigration Backlog |
|---|---|
| As of August 31, 2024 | 1,078,300 |
| As of September 30, 2024 | 1,097,000 |
| As of October 31, 2024 | 1,056,100 |
| As of November 30, 2024 | 1,006,500 |
| As of December 31, 2024 | 942,300 |
| As of January 31, 2025 | 892,100 |
Comprehensive Overview of Application Inventories
In addition to the reduction in backlog, IRCC’s total application inventory has decreased from 2,119,900 on December 31, 2024, to 2,076,600 by January 31, 2025. Applications processed within service standards have also seen a slight increase, rising from 1,177,600 to 1,184,500 during the same period.
Understanding the Backlog Criteria
An application enters the backlog when its processing time surpasses IRCC’s established service standards. These standards vary by application type; for instance, Express Entry applications are expected to be processed within six months, while family sponsorship applications have a 12-month standard. Applications exceeding these timeframes are classified as backlogged.
Detailed Breakdown of Current Backlog
Permanent Resident Applications
As of January 31, 2025, IRCC’s inventory for permanent residence programs stood at 839,900 applications. Of these, 483,500 (58%) were within service standards, leaving 356,400 applications in the backlog. Notably:
- Express Entry: 20% of applications are backlogged, aligning with IRCC’s goal to process 80% within six months.
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): The backlog increased to 30% from 25% in December 2024, indicating a growing number of pending applications.
- Family Sponsorship: The backlog remains steady at 15%, consistent with projections.
Temporary Resident Permit Applications
Temporary residency applications, encompassing work permits, study permits, and visitor visas, totaled 998,100 as of January 31, 2025. Of these, 504,400 (51%) were processed within service standards, resulting in a backlog of 493,700 applications. Specific observations include:
- Visitor Visas: 71% of applications are backlogged, exceeding the projected 62%.
- Study Permits: The backlog has risen to 45%, up from 43% in December 2024.
- Work Permits: The backlog decreased significantly to 42% from 57% in the previous month, suggesting prioritization in processing.
Citizenship Grants
The citizenship application backlog remains relatively low. Out of 238,600 total applications, 196,600 (82%) were processed within service standards, leaving an 18% backlog.
Strategic Measures to Address the Backlog
IRCC has implemented several strategies to manage and reduce the backlog:
- Immigration Levels Plan 2025-27: Released on October 24, 2024, this plan outlines a reduction in permanent resident admission targets over the next three years.
- Program Caps: In January 2025, caps were introduced on specific programs, including study permit applications and the Agri-Food Pilot, to better control application intake and manage inventories.
- Operational Adjustments: Plans to reduce approximately 3,300 jobs over the next three years have been announced, corresponding with the lowered immigration targets. The impact of these reductions on processing times remains to be observed.
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