IRCC Makes Major Progress in Clearing Immigration Backlog

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made significant strides in reducing its backlog of immigration applications. As of December 31, 2024, the backlog now sits at 942,300 applications—marking the first time in months it has dipped below the one-million mark.

A Look at the Numbers

At the end of November, IRCC’s backlog stood at 1,006,500 applications. By December 31, this number had decreased by 6.38%. This improvement comes after months of higher figures, with the last sub-million backlog recorded back in June 2024.

• Backlog Trends by Month:
• June 30, 2024: 936,600 applications
• July 31, 2024: 1,002,400 applications
• August 31, 2024: 1,078,300 applications
• September 30, 2024: 1,097,000 applications
• October 31, 2024: 1,056,100 applications
• November 30, 2024: 1,006,500 applications
• December 31, 2024: 942,300 applications

Overall, IRCC’s total application inventory has also shrunk. At the end of December, there were 2,119,900 applications in the inventory, down from 2,267,700 the previous month.

Understanding the Backlog

IRCC defines a backlog as any application not processed within its published service standards. These standards vary by program—for example, Express Entry applications typically have a six-month service standard, while family sponsorship applications are expected to be processed within 12 months.

Backlog Breakdown

• Permanent Resident Applications:
  By the end of December, IRCC’s inventory included 836,900 applications for permanent residency. Of these, 344,700 were considered backlog.
• Express Entry: 18% of applications are in backlog, meeting the goal of processing 80% within six months.
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): Backlog rose to 25%.
• Family Sponsorship: 15% of applications remain in backlog, which aligns with the projected rate.
  
  
• Temporary Resident Applications:
  Temporary residency programs, including work permits, study permits, and visitor visas, had a higher backlog rate. As of December, 47% of these applications were processed within service standards, leaving 557,000 in backlog.
• Visitor Visas: 75% are in backlog, exceeding the projected rate of 61%.
• Study Permits: The backlog climbed to 43%, up from 36% the month prior, and well above the target of 26%.
• Work Permits: Backlog reached 57%, compared to 51% in November and a projected rate of 40%.
  
  
• Citizenship Applications:
  Citizenship applications showed better progress. Of the 232,300 citizenship applications, 83% were processed within service standards, leaving just 17% in backlog.
  
  

What’s Driving These Changes?

Several factors are influencing the reduction in backlog. The federal government’s Immigration Levels Plan 2025-27 announced lower permanent resident admission targets for the next three years, which could help IRCC focus on clearing the existing backlog.

However, there are challenges ahead. IRCC plans to cut around 3,300 jobs over the next three years. While this move aligns with the lower immigration targets, it raises concerns about possible processing delays. As of now, IRCC hasn’t specified which departments will be affected by these cuts.

Additional Measures to Reduce Backlog

IRCC is taking various steps to speed up processing times and further reduce backlog numbers. These include:

• Prioritizing applications from essential workers.
• Leveraging advanced analytics and automated tools to streamline family sponsorship applications.
• Pausing invitations for parents and grandparents sponsorship applications in 2025.

These measures, along with the revised immigration targets, are helping IRCC make steady progress in tackling its backlog. Although challenges remain, the ongoing efforts offer hope that processing times and overall efficiency will continue to improve in the months ahead.