Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) saw its application backlog increase to 1,078,300 by the end of August 2024. This represents a 7.6% rise in the backlog compared to the previous month, July 2024.
July marked a notable milestone, as the backlog exceeded one million applications for the first time in several months. Despite ongoing efforts by the IRCC to address and reduce the backlog, it currently accounts for 1,078,300 out of a total of 2,420,800 applications, meaning that 1,342,500 applications are still being processed within the department’s service standards.
The IRCC defines an application as being in backlog if it is not processed within the published service standards. These standards represent the timelines the department deems reasonable for processing specific types of applications. The timelines vary depending on the type of immigration pathway and the nature of the application. For instance, the IRCC aims to process most Express Entry applications within six months of receiving a completed application, while study permits generally take 60 days.
The IRCC strives to process 80% of all applications within these service standards, leaving the remaining 20% to account for more complex applications or cases requiring additional processing time.
In an Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) request obtained earlier in 2024, the IRCC stated that it is committed to reviewing and updating its service standards, with new standards expected to be published by December 31, 2024.
Current Backlog
Permanent Residence Applications
As of August 31, 2024, the IRCC had a total of 805,600 applications in inventory for permanent residence programs. These included Express Entry programs, Express Entry-aligned streams of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and family sponsorship programs for spouses, partners, and children.
Of the total permanent residence applications, 37% (300,800) were considered part of the backlog.
While exact numbers weren’t provided, the IRCC did share percentages that show how the backlog is distributed:
- Express Entry: The backlog reached 16%, which is slightly higher than the projected 15%, though still within the acceptable 20% threshold set by the department.
- Express Entry-aligned PNP: The backlog for this stream stood at 22%, exceeding the projected 20%.
- Spouses, Partners, and Children (outside Quebec): This category had a smaller backlog than projected, with only 14% of applications in backlog, below the expected 15%.
Temporary Residence Applications
The backlog for temporary residence applications continues to rise, reaching 53% in August 2024, up from 49% in July. This means that 738,900 out of 1,386,000 temporary residence applications are now in backlog.
- The Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) backlog is particularly significant, with 71% of applications in backlog, far exceeding the projected 43%.
- Both study permits and work permits show substantial backlogs as well, with 32% and 47%, respectively, being categorized as backlog.
Citizenship Applications
As in the previous month, citizenship applications remain the only category within acceptable backlog thresholds. As of August, 38,600 out of a total of 229,200 citizenship applications were in backlog, representing 17%, unchanged from July’s figures.
IRCC’s Efforts to Reduce the Backlog
The IRCC has implemented various measures to reduce the backlog, which surged to critical levels in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff shortages, and resource allocation issues at international offices. Among the steps taken to streamline the process are:
- Expanding and enhancing online application processes for permanent residence and citizenship.
- Introducing virtual citizenship ceremonies and online status-checking portals to reduce administrative delays.
- Prioritizing applications from individuals in essential occupations to address ongoing labor shortages.
To further manage the backlog, the IRCC also plans to limit the number of temporary residents. The department aims to reduce the volume of temporary residents entering Canada to just 5% of current levels by introducing a “soft cap” on the number of temporary resident permits issued.
With these initiatives, the IRCC is striving to bring the backlog under control while continuing to meet the country’s immigration and labor market needs. The department’s updated service standards, set to be released by the end of 2024, are expected to provide clearer guidance on processing times and help streamline the application process going forward.