IRCC Reports Continued Reduction in Immigration Application Backlog: Update

Because of Canada’s efforts, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has managed to reduce its application backlog, which has greatly improved both processing speed and responsiveness. The backlog fell to 760,200 applications on April 30, 2025, which is the lowest number in the past six months and continues a run of five months where the backlog has remained below one million. Because of improvements in technology and policy, as well as continued work on streamlining the immigration system, the numbers have consistently declined.

Exploring What the Backlog Is and Why You Need to Know?

An application goes into the IRCC backlog if it remains unfinished after the set service standards have been exceeded. The amount of time it takes for a program application to be processed depends on the type of application; Express Entry applications are completed in half a year, but family sponsorship applications have a twelve-month standard. They aim to complete 80% of the applications in the expected time,e and the rest of the cases may take longer because they involve extra documentation or checks135.

When immigration authorities have a large backlog, applicants may wait a long time, feel unsure, and employers and families encounter difficulties. Getting rid of the backlog means decisions come faster, clients get better service, and people have more trust in Canadian immigration.

Also Read: Manitoba PNP EOI Draw #246: 30 Skilled Workers Invited in May 2025

Backlog Trends: Six Months of Steady Decline

The latest figures show a consistent downward trend in the backlog:

As of April 30, 2025, the total application inventory (including all cases, not just those in backlog) stood at 2,041,800, up by 65,100 from the previous month. This increase reflects a higher volume of new applications being submitted, even as the proportion of delayed cases continues to shrink.

Breakdown by Application Category

Here is the breakdown by application category:

1. Permanent Resident Applications

• Inventory: 880,800 applications (as of April 30, 2025)

• Processed within standards: 489,800 (56%)

• Backlog: 391,000 (44%)

The PR backlog has applications from Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and family sponsorship streams. Out of Express Entry applicants, 22% were held back (over the set target of 20%), whereas PNP backlogs reached 49% (instead of the intended 35%). The number of family interviews backed up remained at 14% which is just under the department’s 15% target.

2. Temporary Resident Applications

• Inventory: 918,500 applications

• Processed within standards: 594,200 (65%)

• Backlog: 324,300 (35%)

You can apply for a temporary resident (TR) permit as a visitor, as someone doing a program of study or as a worker. There was a decrease of 6% in the work permit backlog, from 42% to 36% (target: 26%). Processing times for study permits have decreased to 25%, down from 37% last month (target: 15%). The current level of backlogs in visitor visas is 54%, a decrease of 4% since March and more than the 38% goal.

3. Citizenship Grant Applications

• Inventory: 242,500 applications

• Processed within standards: 197,600 (81%)

• Backlog: 44,900 (19%)

More than four out of five (81%) citizenship applications are completed within the expected time frame. This is in line with what has happened in the past few months and falls inside IRCC’s target range of 20%.

How Is IRCC Reducing the Backlog?

Various strategies have played a major role in their recent achievements.

1. Relying on Advanced Analytics and Automation: Sorting and reviewing applications, finding complex cases and summarising information are now helped by IRCC’s new technologies. Automation doesn’t replace how decisions are made by officers; rather, it allows them to work on the difficult cases, making the entire process more speedy.

2. Limits On How Many Applications Can Be Accepted: The federal government has put limits on some programs, like the 2025 study permit cap (550,162 applications) and 5,500 applications for Home Care Worker Pilots. They are used to keep the number of new applications under control so the system does not become overloaded.

3. Fewer People Allowed to Immigrate: On October 2024, the government introduced the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan which plans for fewer permanent residency approvals in the following years. IRCC is reducing applications in order to create stability with processing and address its existing backlog of cases.

4. Operational Adjustments: Resources have been moved within IRCC, ways of working have been enhanced and certain application types are now top priorities to deal with major backlogs. Regardless of reductions in the workforce, the department still aims to improve efficiency and customer service.

Also Read: Carney’s Immigration Mandate: Canada’s New Path for 2025 and Beyond

Challenges and Ongoing Issues

Though the aggregated backlog is smaller, PNP and visitor visas still have higher numbers than they should. Having lots of new claims, working on difficult cases, and shifts in incoming applications are still issues to address. Certain applicants might still wait longer, especially in the non-Express Entry streams that are not bound by the six-month standard.

What Applicants Must Consider?

• Stay Informed: Check often to see where your application is at and pay attention to any updates from IRCC about processing times.

• Be Well-Prepared: Make sure all your paperwork is complete and correct so delays don't happen.

• More Improvements Coming: With each new piece of technology or policy put into place, the reduction of the backlog and faster processing are likely.

Conclusion

Canada’s immigration system is making good progress now that the backlog of applications is being handled more efficiently. Because the backlog is now the lowest it has been in six months, processing time for applications should be faster and service better. Despite challenges in particular areas, additional efforts in technology, rules, and how the agency functions promise to lead to a better and more trustworthy immigration system. Canada’s ability to match immigrants to available places is rising which gives better hope for families planning to settle in Canada.

To learn more about the latest immigration news, contact TerraTern right away!