IRCC Backlog Continues to Rise – Study Permit Delays Grow
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is
facing an increasing backlog of applications, with significant growth in study
permit delays.
Growing Backlog Numbers
As of August 31, 2025, the backlog reached 958,850
applications, up from 901,700 at the end of July. This marks another
consecutive month of growth.
Here is a snapshot of the backlog trend over
the past six months:
|
Month |
Immigration Backlog |
Change vs. Previous Month |
|
March 2025 |
779,900 |
-5.03% |
|
April 2025 |
760,200 |
-2.53% |
|
May 2025 |
802,000 |
+5.5% |
|
June 2025 |
842,800 |
+5.02% |
|
July 2025 |
901,700 |
+6.98% |
|
August 2025 |
958,850 |
+6.33% |
In total, 2.19 million applications were in IRCC’s inventory by the end
of August. Out of these, 1.24 million were being processed within
service standards.
Permanent Residence Applications
IRCC reported 901,800 applications in its permanent
residence inventory, including Express Entry, Provincial Nominee
Program (PNP) streams, and family sponsorships.
- Within
service standards: 431,500 applications
- Backlog:
470,300 applications (up from 443,500 in July)
Highlights:
- Express
Entry backlog decreased slightly to 20% (from 21% in
July).
- PNP
backlog remained steady at 49%, up
significantly from 25% in December 2024.
- Family
sponsorship backlog rose to 17%, the highest
since August 2023.
Temporary Residence Applications
At the end of August, there were 1,038,100 temporary
residence applications in IRCC’s inventory.
- Within
service standards: 600,750 (58%)
- Backlog:
437,350 (42%)
Category breakdown:
- Work
permits: Backlog slightly down from 46% (July) to
45% (August).
- Study
permits: Backlog jumped from 23% (July) to 32%
(August).
- Visitor
visas: Backlog increased from 56% (July) to 60% (August).
Citizenship Applications
Citizenship grants remain closer to IRCC’s processing
target. As of August, the backlog stood at 20%, a small increase from 19%
in July.
What Does IRCC Mean by Backlog?
IRCC classifies applications as part of the backlog if they
exceed the department’s published service standards.
Examples:
- Express
Entry applications are meant to be processed within 6
months.
- Family
sponsorship applications should be processed within 12
months.
While IRCC aims to process 80% of applications within
standard timelines, more complex files may take longer, leading to backlog
growth.
Final Thoughts
The increase in study permit backlogs is particularly
concerning for international students preparing for their academic sessions in
Canada. Applicants for permanent residence and family sponsorship also continue
to face longer-than-expected wait times.
If you are affected by these delays, consulting an experienced
immigration representative can help you understand your options and prepare
stronger submissions to minimize risks of further processing delays.
