Canada’s Immigration Backlog Remains High | Canada Immigration Updates
Canada's immigration backlog remains high with 878,400 applications exceeding service standards as of May 2024. IRCC efforts show slight progress in reducing delays.
Gurmeet Sharma
Canada’s immigration system continues to face challenges as it deals with a high volume of new applications and existing inventory falling into backlog. Recent data released by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on June 24, 2024, provides a detailed overview of the current backlog and the progress being made.
As of May 31, 2024, the IRCC reports a total of 2,220,000 applications for citizenship, permanent residence, and temporary residence under processing. Out of these, 878,400 applications are classified as backlogged, meaning they exceed the usual IRCC service standards.
This figure represents a slight improvement from April’s backlog of 897,100 applications, indicating some progress but underscoring the continued high volume of pending applications. IRCC has a service standard of processing 80% of the applications within the quoted processing time for a particular category.
IRCC Processing Inventory as of May 31, 2024:
- Citizenship: 208,200
- Permanent Residence: 444,700
- Temporary Residence: 688,700
- Total: 2,220,000
Breakdown of Backlog and Processing Standards
There has been improvement in the backlog for all the major immigration business lines, as per the latest data listed below:
- Citizenship Applications: Significant progress has been made in this category, with only 17% of total applications backlogged. The number of backlogged citizenship applications decreased from 47,400 in April to 43,000 as of May 31, 2024, marking a 9.2% improvement.
- Permanent Residence Applications: There were 300,600 applications in backlog at the end of May, a slight decrease from 302,400 at the end of April, marking just about 0.6% improvement.
- Temporary Residency Applications: The backlog was reduced from 548,100 in April to 534,800 in May 2024, registering about 2.4% improvement in backlog. Simultaneously, temporary residency applications processed within service standards increased from 661,300 to 688,700, indicating an increase in new applications.
Categories Facing Challenges
Despite these improvements, certain categories continue to experience significant delays. The IRCC is still not meeting the service standards for the below categories, with more than 20% of applications in backlog, reflecting ongoing challenges in processing these types of applications efficiently.
- Express Entry Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): 24% are in backlog
- Temporary Resident Visas: 58% are in backlog
- Work Permits: 53% are in backlog
IRCC is now able to meet service standards for the rest of the citizenship, immigration, and temporary visa categories.
IRCC’s Service Standards and Projections
The IRCC’s service standards are designed to ensure that 80% of applications are processed within a specific timeframe, which varies depending on the type of application.
These standards are crucial benchmarks for measuring the efficiency of the immigration system. The IRCC’s projections indicate a continued focus on reducing the backlog and improving service standards.
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| Category | Actual Backlog | Projected Backlog by End of May 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship | 17% | 17% |
| Express Entry | 15% | 15% |
| Express Entry PNP | 24% | 20% |
| Spouses, partners, and children | 14% | 15% |
| Temporary Resident Visas (TRV) | 58% | 60% |
| Study Permits | 19% | 13% |
| Work Permits | 53% | 45% |
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Monthly IRCC Backlog Updates (Last 12 months)
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| Backlog Update Date | Applications In Backlog | Total Applications Under Processing | Backlog Net Change Month-on-Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2024 | 878,400 | 1,341,600 | -2.08% |
| April 30, 2024 | 897,100 | 1,323,100 | +0.57% |
| March 31, 2024 | 892,000 | 1,320,000 | -0.80% |
| February 29, 2024 | 899,150 | 1,227,050 | -3.32% |
| January 31, 2024 | 930,000 | 2,188,400 | -2.05% |
| December 31, 2023 | 949,500 | 2,221,100 | +6.65% |
| November 30, 2023 | 890,300 | 2,092,700 | -4.93% |
| October 31, 2023 | 936,500 | 2,166,800 | 0.86% |
| September 30, 2023 | 928,500 | 2,194,900 | 9.9% |
| August 31, 2023 | 844,700 | 2,198,700 | 5.2% |
| July 31, 2023 | 802,600 | 2,274,600 | 0.2% |
| June 30, 2023 | 801,000 | 2,264,000 | -2.3% |
| May 31, 2023 | 820,000 | 2,248,000 | 1.4% |
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Canada’s immigration backlog remains a significant challenge, but recent data indicates that slight progress is being made. The IRCC’s efforts to streamline processes, increase staffing, and leverage technology are essential steps toward reducing delays and meeting service standards.
As Canada aims to welcome 485,000 new immigrants in 2024, addressing the backlog will be critical to achieving these ambitious targets and maintaining the country’s reputation as a top destination for immigrants. By understanding the current state of Canada’s immigration backlog and the measures being taken to address it, prospective immigrants can better navigate the application process and plan their futures in Canada.
