February 11th, 2024 at 12:19 am

Canada Exceeds its PR Target – IRCC New Backlog Data | Canada Immigration 2024

Canada joyfully welcomed and embraced 471,550 new permanent residents in the middle of 2023, marking an important turning point in the country’s dedication to diversity and inclusion. Investigating this remarkable immigration figure’s specifics reveals the contributions, goals, and tales of those who have made Canada their new home.

Come explore the complex fabric that illuminates Canada as a destination for people looking for opportunity, a new beginning, and a vibrant community.

Canada PR Target Update

According to recent data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canada welcomed more permanent residents in 2023 than it had anticipated. The most current IRCC backlog data available indicates that in 2023, the government admitted 471,550 new permanent residents.

Compared to 2022, this is an increase of 33,900 above 437,000. The figure surpasses both the 2023 aim and the 2023–2025 immigration levels plan, which calls for the admission of 465,000 permanent residents. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Express Entry candidates, and their wives, partners, and kids were all taken into consideration by the department.

The numbers for the number of applications for temporary residency that the IRCC processed were also made public. Keep in mind that some of the decisions shown here are rejections as they reflect the total number of final decisions made on applicant applications.

Work Permits

A total of 1,646,300 applications—a 503,330 increase over 2022—were approved, including extensions. This covers applications submitted via the International Mobility Program as well as the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

Study Permits

1,089,000 study permits, including extensions, were completed. The IRCC processed 907,900 study permit final judgments in 2022—a 171,700 increase in comparison to the previous year. Lastly, IRCC data reveals that between April 1 and December 31, 2023, 293,000 newcomers obtained Canadian citizenship, representing a 13,900 increase over the same time in 2022 (279,100).

Immigration Levels Plan

The IRCC is on course to reach its goal of 485,000 permanent residents by 2024, as seen by the number of new citizens it accepted in 2023. In 2025 and 2026, the IRCC intends to accept 500,000 new permanent residents annually.

The Immigration Levels Scheduled for the Next Three Years is released by the IRCC. The plan establishes goals for Canada’s admission of permanent residents. For transient inhabitants, such as those with a work or study permit, it does not establish goals. The number of permanent residents who can be accepted into Canada or whose applications can be processed is not limited by the IRCC.

However, the IRCC put a limit on how many study permits it will provide in 2024 on January 22. There is no limit on the number of permit renewals or new permits for graduate students, but the agency claims it will only give 360,000 new study licenses. Additionally, the department announced Ministerial Instructions on February 1st, stating that it will process no more than 606,250 applications for study permits.

IRCC’s Current Backlog

There were 2,221,100 applications in the IRCC’s inventory as of December 31, 2023. 949,500 of those were backlogged. 80% of immigration applications must be processed by IRCC across all business lines within service standards, or the amount of time the government has stipulated that an application must be processed.

The type of application determines the different service standards. Applications for family class sponsorship, for instance, may take up to 12 months, while Express Entry applications have a 6-month service standard. Applications that are processed beyond the parameters of service are categorized as backlogged. The IRCC completed nearly 5.2 million applications in all business categories in 2022.

Permanent Residents

With a backlog of 38,900, the IRCC has 72,000 applications for permanent residence out of the total number of applications in inventory. This indicates that 44% of all applications for permanent residency that are presently on file have not been handled per service standards.

Temporary Residents

1,257,000 applications for work permits, study permits, and temporary resident visitor visas were listed in the inventory, according to the same statistics. 59,800 of these applications are regarded as backlogged.

When the IRCC examines the statistics in more detail, it reveals that 61% of applications for visiting visas were pending as of December 31, 2023. In comparison, the backlog of study permit applications stands at 18%. According to data on work permits, 49% of applications were likewise backlogged.

Citizenship Applications

There were 262,100 citizenship applications on file as of December. Nineteen percent of them were backlogged.

How IRCC is Working to Reduce the Backlog

According to the department, steps taken over the previous few months are contributing to the backlog’s reduction. It highlights the development of Canada’s IT Talent policy, which speeds up processing for numerous foreign workers with experience in in-demand IT occupations, and the prioritization of work permit applications for workers in the healthcare and agricultural sectors.

The IRCC adds that online application status trackers and the development of an online portal for some permanent residence applications are aiding in the acceleration of the processing time. In addition, the department has made citizenship applications available online to people who are older than eighteen. Additionally, candidates can now take citizenship exams online and take part in virtual ceremonies.