IRCC Latest Update: Canada Immigration Backlog Increase & Updates 2024
A growing backlog of applications for immigration to Canada has made things more unpredictable for potential immigrants in recent months. The number of pending applications has slightly increased, according to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) most recent statement.
This development has important ramifications not only for the larger immigration system but also for individuals and families looking to start over in Canada. In this blog, we will examine the specifics of the most recent report from the IRCC, investigate the causes of the backlog, and talk about possible ways to expedite the immigration process.
Canada Immigration Backlog
According to recently updated data from the IRCC, there was a modest increase in Canada’s immigration backlog as of April 30, with 2,220,200 applications for citizenship, permanent residency, and temporary residency for processing.
This data was updated on May 27 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 897,100 of the more than 2.2 million applications being processed were backlogged, which is more than the typical IRCC service requirements. In March, this number was 892,000, and 1,323,100 of those were processed per IRCC service requirements.
Only applications for temporary residency saw a rise in backlog. In March 2024, there were 538,600 applications for temporary residency; by April of the same year, there were 548,100 applications. Conversely, 665,400 applications in March and 661,300 in April met service standards, respectively.
Month after month, the backlog of applications for citizenship and permanent residence shrank. In March 2024, the backlog of citizenship applications was close to 47,400. By April 2024, their numbers had somewhat dropped to 46,600. This decline is indicative of the continuous attempts to streamline the naturalization process.
As of April 30, 302,400 applications were pending for permanent residency, compared to 304,300 at the end of March 2024.
Detail of the Backlogs
| Application Type |
Backlog As of April 30 | Backlog As of March 31 | Backlog As of Feb 29 |
| Citizenship | 46,600 | 47,400 | 48,400 |
| Permanent Residence | 302,400 | 306,000 | 304,300 |
| Temporary Residence | 548,100 | 538,600 | 546,500 |
| Total | 897,100 | 892,000 | 899,200 |
At any one time, the IRCC wants to complete eighty percent of applications within their service requirements. However, IRCC cannot provide the level of service required for PNPs, work permits, study permits, and Express Entry.
For 80% of citizenship, Express Entry, and Spousal sponsorship, IRCC satisfies service standards. Here are the IRCC’s April 2024 forecasts compared to the actual backlog.
IRCC Backlog: Actual vs Projections
| Category | Actual Backlog | What IRCC Projected by the End of April 2024 |
| Citizenship | 18% | 18% |
| Express Entry | 14% | 15% |
| Express Entry PNP | 23% | 19% |
| Spouses, partners, and children (except for Quebec) | 14% | 15% |
| Temporary Resident Visas (TRV) | 57% | 61% |
| Study Permits | 31% | 19% |
| Work Permits | 49% | 35% |
IRCC Backlog Updates (Last 12 months)
Below are the IRCC’s monthly updates on backlog data. You can click on the dates to view a detailed breakdown of the backlog data.
| Backlog Update Date | Applications In Backlog |
Total Applications Under Processing |
Backlog Net Age Change month-on-month |
| 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% |
| April 30, 2023 | 809,000 | 2,006,000 | -9.7% |
What are IRCC’s Service Standards?
A deadline has been established by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the processing of applications for citizenship and various forms of immigration visas. The IRCC reported a modest increase in Canada’s immigration backlog, which underscores the system’s persistent issues, with the target of processing 80% of files within that time frame.
This increase highlights the necessity for ongoing efforts to enhance processing efficiency and resource allocation, even though it may worry many hopeful immigrants. By resolving these problems, Canada can maintain its standing as a friendly country for immigrants.
Stakeholders must continue to work together and be creative as we keep an eye out for updates so that the immigration process is equitable and efficient for all applicants.
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