Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has confirmed it will not clear its entire backlog of permanent residence (PR) applications in 2025—only specific PR pathways will see their inventories fully processed this year.
According to the latest Minister Transition Binder, only a select group of economic immigrationprograms will have their entire inventories cleared. These include:
Quebec’s Skilled Worker Pathways (PSTQ, PEQ, and Quebec Pilot Programs)
All other economic immigration streams will only see partial processing of their application backlogs in 2025.
Full Processing in 2025 – Pathways
The following programs will have 100% of their inventory cleared this year:
PR Pathway
Applications (as of Sept 11)
Applications to be processed
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
19,300
19,300
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW)
12,500
12,500
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Included with FSW
Included
Enhanced PNP (Express Entry-aligned)
16,300
16,300
Community Pilots
3,500
3,500
Quebec Skilled Worker (PSTQ)
27,600
27,600
Quebec Experience Class (PEQ)
Included with PSTQ
Included
Quebec Pilot Programs
Included with PSTQ
Included
Partial Processing – Pathways and Targets for 2025
IRCC will only process a portion of applications for the following economic PR streams:
PR Pathway
Application Inventory
% to be Processed
Estimated Applications Processed
Agrifood Pilot
8,900
5%
445
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
12,100
33%
3,993
Caregiver Pilots
34,400
14%
4,816
Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP)
2,500
12%
300
Base PNP (non-Express Entry)
87,700
35%
30,695
Quebec Business Programs
4,100
3%
123
Start-Up Visa (SUV)
38,600
2%
772
Wait Times by Program (Months)
Express Entry (CEC & FSW)
Quarter
FSW
CEC
2024-Q2
6
6
2024-Q3
5
6
2024-Q4
6
6
2025-Q1
6
7
2025-Q2
6
5
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Quarter
Enhanced PNP
Base PNP
2024-Q2
6
11
2024-Q3
6
11
2024-Q4
7
13
2025-Q1
7
24
2025-Q2
6
19
Quebec Programs
Quarter
Quebec Skilled Worker
Quebec Business
2024-Q2
8
20
2024-Q3
8
17
2024-Q4
11
22
2025-Q1
8
108
2025-Q2
9
108
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
Quarter
AIP
2024-Q2
12
2024-Q3
13
2024-Q4
17
2025-Q1
27
2025-Q2
24
Federal Economic Pilots
Quarter
Agrifood
Caregivers
EMPP
2024-Q2
22
31
10
2024-Q3
32
29
8
2024-Q4
60
27
10
2025-Q1
180
84
36
2025-Q2
228
108
54
Note: IRCC has closed the “not in Canada” stream of the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and does not plan to expand the caregiver inventory further in 2025.
Community Pilots (RNIP, FCIP, RCIP)
Quarter
Community Pilots
2024-Q2
12
2024-Q3
14
2024-Q4
12
2025-Q1
12
2025-Q2
7
Start-Up Visa (SUV)
Quarter
SUV
2024-Q2
48
2024-Q3
51
2024-Q4
71
2025-Q1
420
2025-Q2
420
Key Takeaways
Express Entry, Quebec skilled programs, and community pilots are prioritized for full processing in 2025.
Base PNP, caregiver, start-up, and economic pilot programs will only see partial processing, often under 15%.
Wait times are increasing significantly in some streams, with federal pilot programs showing the longest delays—up to 420 months (35 years) in the Start-Up Visa stream.
IRCC’s strategic focus seems to be on reducing inventories for faster-moving, high-skilled pathways.
