Canada’s immigration backlog continues to expand, with newly released IRCC data showing a total of 1,078,300 applications across various categories—marking a 7.57% increase compared to the previous month. The data, published by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on September 24, provides an overview of applications for citizenship, permanent residency, and temporary residency.
As of August 31, there are 2,420,800 total applications in process, highlighting the ongoing challenges for those seeking immigration to Canada.
Comparison of Canada’s Immigration Backlog
As of August 31, Canada’s immigration backlog remains significant, with close to 1.1 million applications delayed across citizenship, permanent residency, and temporary residency categories.
Here is a general breakdown of the most recent data:
| Application Type | Applications With Backlog | Applications Within Service Standards | Total Applications |
| Citizenship | 38,600 | 190,600 | 229,200 |
| Permanent Residence | 300,800 | 504,800 | 805,600 |
| Temporary Residence | 738,900 | 647,100 | 1,386,000 |
| Total | 1,078,300 | 1,342,500 | 2,420,800 |
To understand the current trends in the Canadian immigration system, we can compare the data from August with earlier reports from July 31 and August 31, 2024.
Backlog Comparison:
Citizenship applications dropped by 1.02% since July, continuing a positive trend.
Permanent residence applications increased slightly by 0.60%, showing stable processing.
Temporary residence applications surged by 11.21%, the biggest rise, mainly due to higher demand for student, visitor, and work visas.
| Application Type | August 31 backlog | July 31 Backlog | MoM Change (July to August) |
| Citizenship | 38,600 | 39,000 | -1.02% |
| Permanent Residence | 300,800 | 299,000 | +0.60% |
| Temporary Residence | 738,900 | 664,400 | +11.21% |
| Total | 1,078,300 | 1,002,400 | +7.57% |
Applications Processed Within Service Standards:
The percentage of citizenship applications processed within service standards decreased by 1.50%, continuing the decline observed in previous months.
In contrast, the rate of permanent residence applications processed within the service standards rose by 8.04%, indicating enhanced processing capacity within the department.
However, temporary residence applications also saw a decline of 7.77%, suggesting that many of these applications may have entered the backlog.
| Application Type | August 31 Within Service Standards | July 31 Within Service Standards | MoM Change (July to August) |
| Citizenship | 190,600 | 193,500 | -1.50% |
| Permanent Residence | 504,800 | 467,200 | +8.04% |
| Temporary Residence | 647,100 | 701,600 | -7.77% |
| Total | 1,342,500 | 1,362,300 | -1.45% |
Predictions for Canada’s Immigration Backlog
Looking forward, IRCC is concentrating on various initiatives to alleviate the backlog. The department’s goal is to process a growing number of applications within service standards, especially in the categories of permanent and temporary residence, where the backlog is most significant.
| Category | Backlog projected by end of September 2024 | Actual Backlog at the end of August 2024 | What IRCC Projected by End of August 2024 |
| Citizenship | 16% | 17% | 11% |
| Express Entry | 15% | 16% | 15% |
| Express Entry PNP | 20% | 22% | 20% |
| Spouses, partners, and children (except for Quebec) | 15% | 14% | 15% |
| Temporary Resident Visas (TRV) | 60% | 71% | 43% |
| Study Permits | 30% | 32% | 18% |
| Work Permits | 14% | 47% | 22% |
The IRCC anticipates a 20-30% decrease in the backlog by mid-2025. This reduction will be accomplished by enhancing technological solutions, improving resource allocation, and implementing ongoing reforms to simplify the application process.
Much of the success will rely on effectively handling the increasing demand for temporary residence visas, as this category has experienced the greatest rise in both backlog and total applications.
Effect on Applicants
The increasing backlog, especially within the temporary residence category, continues to impact prospective immigrants, international students, and workers.
With 738,900 applications currently delayed, applicants may face longer processing times.
On a positive note, the uptick in permanent residence applications being processed within service standards is encouraging for those looking for long-term settlement options.
As the IRCC implements its improvements, applicants are advised to closely monitor processing times and ensure their applications are complete and current to prevent unnecessary delays.
Key Takeaways:
- As of August 31, 2024, the Canadian immigration backlog is approaching 1.1 million applications, with the temporary residence category experiencing the most significant increase.
- Backlogs for citizenship and permanent residence applications are gradually decreasing, indicating improved management by the IRCC.
- Future projections suggest a potential reduction of 20-30% in the backlog by mid-2025, though challenges persist in the high-demand temporary residence category.
