June 28th, 2024 at 06:02 am
Canada Immigration Backlog Remains High: New IRCC Updates 2024
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reports thousands of applicants are still awaiting decisions about their applications due to a substantial backlog in immigration cases. This backlog underscores the persistent difficulties and the need for reform as it continues to affect those navigating Canada’s immigration system, including employers, families, and individuals.
The immigration system in Canada is still beset with difficulties due to the large number of new applicants and the backlog of applications in the existing inventory. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) just released statistics on June 24, 2024, which gives a thorough picture of the backlog as of May 31, 2024, as well as the progress that has been accomplished.
2,220,000 applications for citizenship, permanent residency, and temporary residency are reportedly pending, according to the IRCC. Of these, 887,400 applications are categorized as backlogged, indicating that their processing time exceeds the standard IRCC service requirements. Compared to April’s backlog of 897,100 applications, this figure shows some improvement, but it also highlights the ongoing high level of outstanding applications.
Breakdown of Overall Processing
| IRCC Broad Categories | Total Applications as of May 31, 2024 |
| Citizenship | 208,200 |
| Permanent Residence | 444,700 |
| Temporary Residence | 688,700 |
| Total | 2,220,000 |
Inventory breakdown of backlog and processing standards
According to the most recent data provided below, the backlog for all main immigration business lines has improved.
- Citizenship applications: with only 17% of all applications still pending, much progress has been achieved in this area. As of May 31, 2024, there were 43,000 backlogged citizenship applications, a 9.2% improvement from 47,400 in April.
- Applications for permanent residence: at the end of May, there were 300,600 pending applications, a little drop from 302,400 at the end of April. This represents a mere 6% improvement over the previous backlog data.
- Applications for temporary residency: the backlog decreased from 548,100 in April 2024 to 534,800 in May 2024, representing a roughly 24% improvement. Applications for temporary residence processed within service standards went from 661,300 to 688,700 during the same time, showing a rise in new applications.
Categories Facing Challenges
Even with these advancements, there are still notable delays in several areas. With over 20% of applications in backlog, the IRCC continues to fall short of service criteria for the following categories, indicating persistent difficulties in effectively processing these kinds of applications.
- Of the provincial nominee programs for Express Entry, 24% are backlogged.
- Half of the temporary resident visas are backlogged.
- 53 percent of work permits are pending.
As of right present, IRCC can fulfill service requirements for the remaining immigration, citizenship, and temporary visa categories.
IRCC Service Standards and Projections
Depending on the type of application, the IRCC service requirements are made to guarantee that 80% of applications are handled in a given amount of time. These requirements serve as essential benchmarks for assessing how effective the immigration system is. According to the IRCC’s estimates, monthly service standards improvement and backlog reduction will remain top priorities.
IRCC Backlog Updates – Last 12 Months
| Category | Actual Backlog | What IRCC Projected by End of May 2024 |
| Citizenship | 17% | 17% |
| Express Entry | 15% | 15% |
| Express Entry PNP | 24% | 20% |
| Spouses, partners, and children (except for Quebec) | 14% | 15% |
| Temporary Resident Visas (TRV) | 58% | 60% |
| Study Permits | 19% | 13% |
| Work Permits | 53% | 45% |
Monthly IRCC Backlog Updates (Last 12 months)
The IRCC monthly backlog updates over the previous 12 months are shown below.
| Backlog Update Date | Applications In Backlog |
Total Applications Under Processing |
Backlog Net Age Change month-on-month |
| May 31, 2024 | 878,400 | 1,341,600 | -2.08% |
| April 30, 2024 | 897,100 | 1,323,100 | +0.57% |
| March 31, 2024 | 892,000 | 1,320,000 | -0.80% |
| February 29, 2024 | 899,150 | 1,227,050 | -3.32% |
| January 31, 2024 | 930,000 | 2,188,400 | -2.05% |
| December 31, 2023 | 949,500 | 2,221,100 | +6.65% |
| November 30, 2023 | 890,300 | 2,092,700 | -4.93% |
| October 31, 2023 | 936,500 | 2,166,800 | 0.86% |
| September 30, 2023 | 928,500 | 2,194,900 | 9.9% |
| August 31, 2023 | 844,700 | 2,198,700 | 5.2% |
| July 31, 2023 | 802,600 | 2,274,600 | 0.2% |
| June 30, 2023 | 801,000 | 2,264,000 | -2.3% |
| May 31, 2023 | 820,000 | 2,248,000 | 1.4% |
Although there is still a large backlog of immigrants in Canada, new data suggests that some progress is being made. To cut down on delays and satisfy service requirements, the IRCC must work to improve staffing, streamline procedures, and use technology.
To meet these lofty goals and preserve Canada’s standing as a top immigration destination, the backlog must be cleared. By 2024, the country hopes to welcome 485,000 new immigrants.
Prospective immigrants can more easily navigate the application process and make plans for their futures in Canada if they are aware of the present status of Canada’s immigration backlog and the steps being taken to address it.
Current Status of the Canadian Immigration Backlog
2,220,000 applications for citizenship, permanent residency, and temporary residency were being processed as of May 31, 2024. 878,400 of these applications are backlogged, which is more than the typical IRCC service threshold.
What is the difference between this month’s backlog and earlier ones?
As of May 31, 2024, the backlog had decreased from 897,100 applications in April to 878,400 applications. This is a minor improvement.
In what ways is the IRCC fulfilling its service standards?
Less than 20% of the applications for citizenship, study permits, express entry, and spousal sponsorship have a backlog, meaning that IRCC has satisfied the service criteria. More than 20% of applications for work permits, temporary resident visas, and express entry PNPs are still pending, despite their continued difficulties.
Canada’s Immigration Targets for 2024
According to the most recent Canadian immigration levels plan revealed for 2024–2026, Canada hopes to receive 485,000 new immigrants in 2024.
Which categories’ backlogs have significantly decreased?
The backlog for citizenship applications has significantly decreased; currently, only 17% of all applications are pending. In April 2024, there were 47,400 backlogged citizenship petitions; by May of that same year, there were just 43,000.
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