Canada’s Immigration Backlog Surges by Nearly 59,000 Applications in July 2025
Canada’s immigration department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has released its latest data update, and the numbers show a concerning trend. The immigration backlog surged by 58,900 cases in just one month, raising the total number of pending applications to 901,700 as of July 31, 2025.
This backlog represents 40.5% of all immigration applications in IRCC’s inventory, which now stands at 2,226,600 cases. While Canada has made progress in finalizing applications across permanent residency (PR), temporary residency (TR), and citizenship categories, the growing delays highlight persistent challenges in the immigration system.
Breakdown of the July 2025 IRCC Report
Citizenship Applications
- Total inventory: 254,900
- Backlog: Increased from 47,400 in June to 48,800 in July (19.1%)
- Processing efficiency: 80.9% of applications finalized within the 12-month standard
- New citizens: 86,400 granted citizenship between April and July 2025
Citizenship remains the most efficiently processed category within IRCC. However, complex cases involving residency history, background checks, or missing documentation continue to cause delays for some applicants.
Permanent Residency (PR) Applications
- Total inventory: 892,400 (slight decline from June)
- Backlog: Increased significantly from 415,800 to 443,500 (49.7%)
- On-time processing rate: Only 50.3%, well below IRCC’s target of 80%
- Decisions made (Jan–July 2025): 266,800
- New PRs admitted (Jan–July 2025): 246,300
Breakdown by PR program:
- Express Entry: 22% backlog (exceeding the 20% target).
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 49% backlog (far above the 35% target).
- Family Sponsorship: 14% backlog, closer to target.
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): Average wait times up to 17 months, compared to 12 months earlier this year.
The PR backlog remains one of the biggest concerns, especially since the 2025 Immigration Levels Plan reduced admissions targets to 395,000, further straining processing timelines.
Temporary Residency (TR) Applications
- Total inventory: 1,079,300 (up from June)
- Backlog: 409,400 (37.9%)
- Applications finalized (Jan–July 2025):
- 317,800 study permits
- 825,600 work permits
Backlog status by TR stream:
- Study Permits: 30% backlog (improving from March’s 37%).
- Work Permits: 36% backlog (down from 42%).
- Visitor Visas: 65% backlog, well above the 50% target.
While improvements have been noted in study and work permit processing, visitor visa delays remain severe, with many applicants waiting well beyond standard timelines.
Why the Backlog Is Growing
Several factors are contributing to the backlog increase:
- High demand: Record numbers of applications across PR, TR, and citizenship.
- Resource constraints: Limited staffing and processing capacity within IRCC.
- Policy changes: Reduced immigration targets for 2025 (from 485,000 to 395,000) have slowed PR admissions.
- Complex cases: Files requiring additional review or verification extend average processing times.
- System transition: Digital processing upgrades are underway, but full efficiency is yet to be achieved.
What This Means for Applicants
- Citizenship applicants remain least affected, with most cases processed on time.
- PR applicants (especially under PNP and Express Entry) should prepare for extended waiting periods.
- TR applicants will experience mixed results: study and work permits show signs of improvement, but visitor visa processing remains heavily delayed.
Conclusion
Canada’s immigration system is under mounting pressure. Despite efforts to modernize through digital processing and updated policies, the growing backlog highlights a need for greater efficiency, resource allocation, and balanced intake management.
For applicants, the message is clear: expect delays, monitor application timelines closely, and ensure documentation is complete to avoid further setbacks.
For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!
