As of July 31, 2024, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reported a backlog of over one million applications, marking the first time in months that the number has surpassed this threshold. Of the 2,364,700 total applications in inventory, 1,002,400 are considered backlog, meaning they have not been processed within IRCC’s published service standards. Meanwhile, 1,362,000 applications are currently being processed within these timelines.
Compared to the same period last year, the backlog has increased by nearly 100,000, even as the total inventory has grown by 90,100 applications. This rise is largely due to more complex cases and evolving immigration policies.
Service standards vary depending on the type of application, with Express Entry applications typically processed within six months and family sponsorship applications within 12 months. IRCC aims to process 80% of all applications within these standards, with the remaining 20% requiring additional time due to complexity.
In an effort to address the backlog, IRCC has pledged to review its current service standards and publish updated timelines by the end of 2024.
Breakdown of Applications
- Permanent Residence Applications: As of July 31, there were 766,200 permanent residence applications in inventory. Of these, 467,200 were within service standards, while 299,000 were considered backlog. Express Entry applications had a 17% backlog, while the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) backlog stood at 23%.
- Temporary Resident Permit Applications: A significant portion of temporary resident applications (49%) are also in backlog, with visitor visas experiencing the highest rate (64%), followed by study permits (24%) and work permits (43%).
- Citizenship Applications: Citizenship applications remain consistent with projections, with 17% of the total 232,500 applications in backlog, accounting for 39,000 delayed applications.
IRCC’s Response to the Backlog
IRCC has implemented several strategies to tackle the growing backlog, including prioritizing applications for essential workers in healthcare and agriculture, as well as extending Post Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) for master’s degree graduates from two years to three years. Additionally, a “soft cap” on the number of temporary residents is expected to be introduced later this year as part of the new Immigration Levels Plan.
These steps aim to balance the influx of applications and improve processing efficiency in the months ahead.