
IRCC Reduces Immigration Backlog Below One Million Mark for the First Time in Months
In a significant development, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has successfully reduced its immigration application backlog to below one million for the first time in several months. As of December 31, 2024, the backlog stood at 942,300 applications—a notable decrease from 1,006,500 the previous month. This reduction represents a 6.38% drop in the backlog, marking a crucial milestone for the Canadian immigration system.
This improvement comes after months of growing application numbers, and it is the first time since June 2024 that the backlog has fallen below the one-million mark. The reduction is a sign of progress for the IRCC in its ongoing efforts to streamline immigration processing and reduce wait times for applicants.
IRCC Backlog: A Snapshot of the Current Situation
As of December 31, 2024, the total number of immigration applications in IRCC’s inventory, which includes both processed and unprocessed applications, was 2,119,900. This is a reduction from 2,267,700 at the end of November 2024.
In addition, the number of applications processed within the service standards—essentially, those handled within the established processing times—was recorded at 1,177,600. However, this figure also represents a decrease from 1,261,200 the previous month, indicating that while more applications are being cleared, the pace of processing has slowed somewhat compared to earlier in the year.
What Is Considered Backlog?
An application is classified as part of the backlog if it has not been processed within the established service standards by the IRCC. These standards vary depending on the type of immigration application:
- Express Entry applications: Service standard of six months
- Family sponsorship applications: Service standard of 12 months
Applications that exceed these timelines are categorized as backlog, highlighting the delays that applicants may experience.
Breaking Down the Backlog by Category
Permanent Resident Applications
As of December 31, 2024, there were 836,900 applications in IRCC’s inventory for permanent residency. This includes applicants through the Express Entry program, Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), and family sponsorship programs.
- 59% of these applications—492,200—were processed within the service standards, while the remaining 344,700 applications are part of the backlog.
When broken down further:
- Express Entry backlog: 18% of applications, which is on track with IRCC’s goal of processing 80% of these applications within six months.
- PNP applications through Express Entry saw a slight increase in backlog, reaching 25% in December, up from 24% the previous month.
- Family sponsorship applications have remained stable, with 15% of these applications considered backlog, consistent with projected figures.
Temporary Resident Permits
For temporary resident applications—including work permits, study permits, and visitor visas—the situation is more concerning. Only 47% of these applications were processed within the standard timelines as of December 31, 2024, leaving 557,000 applications in the backlog out of 1,050,800 total applications.
- Visitor visa backlog: 75% of applications are currently backlogged, a stark contrast to the 61% backlog projected for this category.
- Study permit backlog: The percentage of study permits in the backlog has risen to 43%, a significant increase from 36% in the previous month. This is far higher than the projected 26% backlog.
- Work permit backlog: Similarly, the backlog for work permits reached 57% by December’s end, up from 51% in November, far surpassing the 40% projected backlog.
Citizenship Applications
The backlog for citizenship applications remains relatively low compared to other categories. As of December 31, there were 232,300 citizenship applications in total, with 191,600 of them (or 83%) being processed within the service standards. This leaves just 17% of citizenship applications as backlog.
Strategies to Address the Backlog
In response to the growing backlog, IRCC has introduced several measures to improve processing times, although challenges remain due to the volume of applications.
Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027
The federal government’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2025-2027—released in October 2024—announced a reduction in permanent resident targets for the next three years. While this may slow the pace of new applications, the reduction is expected to help the IRCC manage and reduce the existing backlog. The 2025 target for permanent residency admissions is now 55,000, down from 110,000 in 2024.
Staff Cuts and Concerns
In January 2025, IRCC announced plans to cut 3,300 jobs over the next three years, in response to the reduced immigration targets. While the department claims these cuts will help streamline operations, concerns have been raised about potential delays in processing due to reduced staffing levels. It remains unclear which departments or staff will be affected by the cuts, and how this might impact the backlog moving forward.
Suspension of Parent and Grandparent Sponsorships
In addition to the staffing cuts, IRCC has also suspended invitations to apply for sponsoring parents or grandparents for permanent residency in 2025. This decision is expected to alleviate some of the pressure on the backlog, particularly in family sponsorship applications.
Prioritizing Essential Workers and Automation
To further expedite processing, IRCC has prioritized applications from workers in essential occupations and has been increasingly using advanced analytics and automation to speed up the processing of spousal sponsorships under the family class. This technology-driven approach is seen as a potential game-changer in reducing processing times, especially in categories like family reunification.
Conclusion
While the reduction in IRCC’s backlog is a positive sign, challenges remain, particularly in categories like temporary resident permits and work permits. The recent measures announced by IRCC—ranging from the reduction in immigration levels to staffing cuts—will play a significant role in how the department tackles its backlog in the coming months. Applicants should continue to monitor updates from IRCC as these changes unfold, as they may impact processing times and eligibility for various programs.
Key Points to Remember:
- IRCC’s backlog has fallen to 942,300 applications as of December 31, 2024, down from over 1 million the previous month.
- Permanent resident and temporary resident applications are still significantly impacted, with large backlogs in work permits, study permits, and visitor visas.
- Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027 includes lower permanent residency targets, which may help reduce the backlog.
- Staff cuts in IRCC could potentially delay processing further, although automation and prioritizing essential workers are part of the strategy to address the backlog.
For anyone navigating the Canadian immigration process, keeping abreast of these updates is crucial to understanding how the evolving situation may affect their application timelines.
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