Canada Immigration Backlog: High Demand, Persistent Delays

Canada immigration backlog went up as of 30 June 2025, reaching a total number of 842,800 across all IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) inventories. While the overall backlog is fluctuating, some specific programs still face significant challenges and long processing times, especially temporary residence, study permits, work permits, and the Start-up Visa (SUV).

Considering that a couple of months prior, on 28 February, 821,200 applicants were in backlog, the IRCC has kept its inventories below the one million mark. This means more applications are processed within the expected timeframes.

Immigration policies in Canada grant foreigners the opportunity to enter, live, work, or study within its borders. This immigration system is key to Canada’s economic strategy, business opportunities, and investment expansion. In this article, you can find out how the current backlog is affecting applicants, its potential causes, and future projections.

Read more about:

• Reasons for Canada Processing Delays
• How long is the Canada immigration backlog?
• What to expect in the future?

What is a backlog?

Canada has a queue of immigration applications that takes longer to process with the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Applications in the inventory become part of the backlog when they exceed the department’s service standards.

Applicants in backlog face longer processing times, resubmissions, and renewals. This could happen for several reasons, such as a high volume of applicants, policy changes, incomplete documentation, complex cases, and external factors.

Current Canada Immigration Backlog: Overview

As of 30 June 2025, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had 2,189,500 applications across all inventories. About 1,346,700 are within service standards, and 842,800 are in backlog or exceeding service standards. In 2024, the IRCC processed over seven million decisions in all its programs.

The number of applications stuck in the backlog constantly fluctuates, currently below one million. However, the Canadian immigration backlog faces higher processing times in some categories, especially temporary visas and business immigration.

Here is a breakdown of backlog percentages as of June 2025:

• Federal High-Skilled (Express Entry): This category had 20 percent of applications backlogged, lower than IRCC’s estimated target of 28 percent.
• Provincial Nominee Program (Express Entry): This category has a much higher backlog, at 48 percent, compared to 46 percent of initial admission targets.
• Spouses, partners, and children (except Quebec): The family sponsorship backlog is performing relatively well, with only 14 percent of applications in backlog, which aligns with the IRCC’s target of 15 percent.
• Temporary Resident Visas (TRV): The temporary residency category has the highest backlog of applications, at 53 percent, compared to the initial target of 42 percent.
• Study permits: Study permit applications face long processing times, with 18 percent of applicants in backlog compared to the 11 percent target range.
• Work permits: This category has one of the longest queues, with 40 percent of backlog applicants versus the 24 percent of admission targets.
• Citizenship Grants: This category has a relatively stable queue with 19 percent of backlog applications as opposed to the 17 percent target range.

Reasons for Canada Processing Delays

The persistent backlog happens for several reasons, such as:

• Too many applications: Canada admits more immigrants per capita than most countries. Because of the surge of people applying for immigration applications, you are more likely to wait longer and face significant delays.
• Incorrect or incomplete documentation: If your application is incomplete, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) spends more time reviewing, requesting, and processing your data.
• Policy changes: Immigration laws and regulations are constantly changing. For example, the Canada Startup Visa recently added changes to annual application caps, limiting applications to ten startups per designated organization.
• Strict screening process: The government only accepts the most qualified individuals to come to the country who can benefit the economy and fill labor shortages, mainly for economic class programs and the Start-up Visa.
• Background and security checks: If you have moved a lot in the last couple of years, have court backlogs, or verification issues, you can face a longer application backlog.

How long is the Canada immigration backlog?

As of 30 June 2025, the total Canada immigration backlog is 842,800 in all inventories. About 661,100 applications for temporary residence are within IRCC service standards, which is 64 percent of the total applications.

“We are seeing steady progress in application processing for high-net worth investors, but public service cuts always hurt the most vulnerable population, leaving countless workers and students in limbo”, says Jelena Sivcev, Strategy and Business Developer at Global Citizen Solutions. Application processing varies across citizenship grants, temporary, and permanent resident programs.

Statistics for permanent residency applications

Between January and April 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) finalized 156,450 decisions and offered permanent residence to 132,100 people.

In January 2025, processing times decreased for the Federal High-Skilled (Express Entry) programs. Over the next two months, more immigration applications were backlogged, causing longer wait times. In April, the queue came closer to the projected backlog range.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) through Express Entry faced significantly longer processing times than some other immigration pathways. With backlogs ranging from 30 to 49 percent, people are more likely to end up in a queue when applying for permanent residence with PNPs.

Family sponsorship applications are doing relatively well. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processes permanent resident admissions very quickly for dependent family members who don’t intend to live in Quebec. The family sponsorship backlog remained low in the last four months.

Statistics for temporary residency applications

Many foreigners who apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) face long wait times. Current queues are significantly higher than the projected backlog target range and keep increasing.

International students often struggle with long processing times when applying for study permits. In April, 30 percent of study permits applications were backlogged, as opposed to the 15 percent target range.

In January 2025, work permits in Canada seemed to be getting closer to the projected backlog target range. But backlogs drastically increased in March (42 percent) and April (36 percent), causing many workers to wait before employment.

Statistics for Canadian citizenship applications

In 2025, Canada welcomed 63,300 new citizens from 1 April to 30 June. Citizenship grants are processed at a relatively moderate pace, with lower wait times and quicker processing times of about 10 months.

What to expect in the future?

You can expect a positive backlog trend in the next three years as officials prioritize efficiency. The goal of the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is to process 80 percent of applications within their service standards. The Canadian government is considering implementing AI-based tools to automate processing services and reduce the wait time across different Case Processing Centres (CPCs).

But, despite significant efforts to reduce backlogs, it’s difficult for all immigration systems to meet the IRCC’s published service standards. Study permit applications may continue to face challenges with application backlogs due to imposed caps. For 2025, the IRCC intends to issue up to 437,000 study permits, which is ten percent lower than the 2024 cap.

Canada’s most recent Immigration Levels Plan (2025-2025) drastically lowered the permanent resident targets: 395,000 (for 2025), 380,000 (for 2026), and 365,000 (for 2027). Officials believe that accepting fewer permanent residents can improve processing times and simplify the decision-making process.

How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?

Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique investment migration consultancy firm focused on finding the right residency or citizenship by investment program for individuals wishing to secure their future and become global citizens. With offices in Portugal, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Brazil, our multilingual team guides individuals and families from start to finish, providing expert advice considering freedom, mobility, taxation, and security.

• We have helped hundreds of clients from 35+ countries in all the top residency by investment and citizenship by investment programs. With an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the area, we provide our clients with solid guidance. 
• Our team has never had a case rejected. Our 100 percent approval rate sets us apart from our competitors and guarantees that you can expect a successful application.
• Our transparent pricing covers all the processes from opening your bank account, document certification, and legal due diligence to investment and submission. As there is one fee for the entire process, you can be confident that you will not face any hidden costs later.
• All data is stored within a GDPR-compliant database on a secure SSL-encrypted server. You can be safe knowing that your personal data is treated with the utmost security.
• Global Citizen Solutions provides an all-encompassing solution. Our support can continue even after you receive your passport. We offer additional services such as company incorporation, Trusts, and Foundations formation.
• The BeGlobal Onboarding System® allows you to access the status of your application every step of the way, something that sets us apart from our competitors.

Frequently Asked Questions About Canada Immigration Backlog

What is the current status of the Canada immigration backlog in 2025?

As of 30 June 2025, out of 2,189,500 applications across the IRCC inventory, 842,800 are exceeding service standards, which means 38.49 percent of applicants are in the IRCC backlog. The bigger the number of incoming applications, the higher the odds for delays.

Why does Canadian immigration take so long?

Canada has high standards, many people applying, complex cases, and strict immigration programs to process. Projected backlogs often happen because of high demand, thorough security checks, and incomplete documentation.

How many backlogs are allowed in Canada?

Canada doesn’t have a fixed amount of backlogs. The IRCC has service standards and internal processing targets. For 2025, their goal is to process 80 percent within their published service standards, which means they expect about 20 percent to fall into the projected backlog.

What is the current wait time for PR in Canada?

The current wait time for Canadian permanent residency (PR) varies by program. Express Entry applications typically take five to six months, while Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications can take 12 to 19 months. Family sponsorships average 11 to 12 months. This is just a general average; processing times depend on the application stream and country of origin.

How long does it take to get approved for immigration to Canada?

Every immigration program has different processing times. For example, if you are applying for the SUV program in 2025, the average processing takes about 51 months. You can check your application status on the Canada Startup Visa official website.

Is Canada still looking for immigrants?

Yes, Canada welcomes immigrants of all nationalities. However, the country faces a projected backlog in various immigration applications, including visitor visa applications, work permits, and permanent residence through Express Entry and the Start-up Visa. Efforts are ongoing to streamline processes and reduce wait times across all immigration applications.

What is the success rate for Express Entry for US citizens?

US citizens are very likely to be approved for Express Entry in Canada, with around 80 percent of applications processed within six months. USA applicants usually benefit from strong language skills, high education, and work experience, which align well with Express Entry’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

How to speed up the immigration process?

You can’t technically speed up the IRCC processing times, but you can ensure that you provide accurate documentation, do proper due diligence, and meet all the qualifying criteria for the program you apply for. Working with a certified immigration consultant can help you navigate this process and increase your chances of approval.

Is the family sponsorship backlog impacting immigration levels?

Yes, the family sponsorship backlog affects how quickly family sponsorship applications are processed within service standards. While immigration levels have targets for applications submitted annually, not all applications submitted reach the ideal processing time within a couple of months and can take longer.

Does the Federal government manage work permit backlogs?

Yes, the Federal government actively aims to manage inventories of work permits and Express Entry applications. While application caps sometimes exist, especially for the Start-up Visa, the goal is to have most applications, including Express Entry, processed within service standards.