Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) application backlog has exceeded one million applications for the first time in months. According to the latest data, there were 1,002,400 applications in the backlog as of July 31, 2024, out of 2,364,700 total applications currently in inventory. This means that 1,362,000 applications are being processed within service standards.

The numbers show an increase of 199,800 applications in the backlog compared to the same time last year when there were 2,274,600 applications in inventory. In other words, there has been an increase of 90,100 applications in the inventory but the backlog has grown by almost 100,000 applications.

Understanding the Backlog

Applications are considered backlog if they are not processed within IRCC’s published service standards. These standards are the timeline the department deems reasonable for processing an application. They vary between lines of business and the type of application. For example, an Express Entry application has a service standard of six months while a family sponsorship application has a service standard of 12 months.

IRCC says it is committed to processing 80% of all applications within service standards. The remaining 20% are applications that are considered more complex or require additional time for other reasons. In an Access to Information request (ATIP) that CIC News received earlier this year, IRCC has said it is committed to reviewing current service standards and publishing new ones by December 31, 2024.

Impact on Permanent Residence Applications

On July 31, IRCC had 766,200 total applications in inventory for permanent residence immigration programs including the Express Entry programs, the Express Entry-aligned streams of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and family sponsorship programs for spouses, partners, and children. Of these, 467,200 were processed within service standards and the remaining 299,000 were considered backlog.

The department does not supply exact figures, but it notes that 17% of Express Entry applications were considered backlog. This is 2% higher than the projected 15% for July 2024 but still meets IRCC’s service standard of processing 80% of applications within a service standard of six months. Provincial Nominee Program applications (through Express Entry) were noted as 23% in backlog against the projected 20% for July and 14% of family sponsorship applications were considered backlog, slightly less than the projected 15%.

The Growing Challenge of Temporary Residents

In contrast, almost half (49%) of all applications for temporary residency (work or study permits and visitor visas) were considered backlog. Specifically, 644,400 out of 1,362,300 applications were not processed within service standards.

Broken down by program, 64% of all visitor visa applications are in the backlog along with 24% of study permit applications and 43% of work permits. The department had projected a visitor visa backlog of 60%, a study permit backlog of 12% and a work permit backlog of 28% in July.

Reducing Temporary Residents

Earlier this year, IRCC paused processing study permits when it introduced a cap on the number of study permits the department will process and had provincial governments implement a provincial attestation letter (PAL) system to help reduce study permit fraud. Still, IRCC notes that 508,000 study permit applications (including extensions) were finalized between January 1 and July 31, 2024, and 791,000 work permit applications (including extensions) were finalized during the same period.

Citizenship Applications

Citizenship applications are the only category in which the projected backlog and actual backlog match. Data as of July shows that 17% of all citizenship applications are in backlog. This percentage accounts for 39,000 applications out of 232,500 total citizenship applications in inventory.

Factors Contributing to the Backlog

Multiple factors can contribute to a backlog. In the ATIP regarding service standards, IRCC says that in 2022 (the height of the backlog following the COVID-19 pandemic), global crisis, lack of staff, and misallocation of resources between international offices were all found to have played a part in delayed processing.

IRCC’s Efforts to Reduce the Backlog

IRCC says it has taken steps to reduce the backlog such as prioritizing applications from workers in essential occupations in health care and agriculture and extending the validity of Post Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) for master’s degree graduates from two years to three years. This year the department announced that it will introduce a “soft cap” on the number of temporary residents admitted to Canada in coming years (reducing the volume to 5% of current levels over the next few years) by adding temporary resident targets to the Immigration Levels Plan that will be released later this fall.

What Does This Mean for You?

This backlog means that the processing time for your immigration application may be longer than usual. IRCC has said that they are working hard to reduce the backlog, but it is important to be aware of the potential delays. If you are planning to apply for immigration to Canada, it is advisable to consult with an immigration lawyer or consultant to discuss your options and plan accordingly.