Canada’s Immigration Backlog Continues to Rise

The backlog of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has been on a steady upward trajectory in recent months.

The latest data, released on November 4, reveals a backlog of 1,097,000 applications as of September 30, 2024. This marks an increase of 1.73% from the preceding month.

Comparatively, the backlog stood at 1,078,300 applications as of August 31 and 1,002,400 applications by July 31. The surge to over a million applications in July was a significant milestone, indicating the first time in several months the number had escalated to such heights.

The data also unveils that the current inventory encompasses a total of 2,450,600 applications. Of these, 1,353,600 applications are being processed within service standards.

This figure surpasses the number of applications processed in August (1,342,500) by 0.83%, demonstrating a marginal improvement by IRCC, despite the mounting backlog.

What is Defined as Backlog

An application is categorised as part of the backlog if it hasn’t been processed within IRCC's published service standards. These standards outline the timelines deemed suitable for processing each type of application, which may vary based on the specific pathway and application particulars.

For instance, the IRCC target is to process most Express Entry applications within six months from receipt of a completed application.

IRCC aims to process 80% of its applications within these service standards. Yet, IRCC acknowledges that this goal may not be attainable if application volumes exceed available capacities, potentially inflating processing times in some categories.

The Status of Permanent Residence Applications

As of September 24, IRCC held 816,000 total applications for permanent residence in its inventory.

Out of these applications, 510,800 (63%) were processed within service standards. The remaining 305,200 applications were classified as backlog.

This category includes Express Entry programs, Express Entry-aligned streams of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and family sponsorship programs for spouses, partners, and children.

According to IRCC, 17% of Express Entry applications were considered backlog. This figure is lower than the target backlog of 20% but exceeds its projected backlog of 15%.

Express Entry-aligned PNP stood at 23% against a projected 20%, revealing a slightly larger backlog.

Lastly, for spouses, partners, and children (excluding Quebec), the backlog consisted of 15% of applications, aligning with the projected backlog.

As Canada grapples with these growing numbers, the challenge of expediting the immigration process while maintaining thorough application reviews remains. The nation's commitment to welcoming new residents, coupled with its promise of efficient service, will undoubtedly continue to shape the future of its immigration practices.