Maple News reports that Canada welcomed a record-breaking 471,550 new permanent residents in 2023—surpassing the government’s annual immigration targets. As interest in immigrating to Canada continues to grow, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is tasked with processing hundreds of thousands of permanent residence (PR) applications each year alongside thousands of temporary permits for work and study.
Understanding how these applications are handled can provide clarity for prospective immigrants. Most economic immigration streams, like Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), operate on a two-step ‘candidate-to-applicant’ system. First, individuals submit a profile to a designated immigration program pool. If found eligible, they receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Only after securing the ITA can they submit a permanent residence application.
For Express Entry, the steps unfold as follows:
1. Submit a candidate profile to the Express Entry pool;
2. Wait for and receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA);
3. Submit a full PR application within 60 days of receiving the ITA.
Some other immigration streams, like family sponsorship, do not follow this two-step model and allow applicants to begin the process directly.
Once a PR application is submitted, IRCC begins its internal processing. According to a report from Canada’s Auditor General, the process begins with the creation of a file in the department’s Global Case Management System (GCMS). This filing system helps track and manage each applicant’s progress.
The next stage is a comprehensive review of the documents submitted. IRCC verifies whether all necessary papers have been included—such as police certificates, proof of funds, and medical exams. If documents are missing or incomplete, applications are returned to the applicant for correction or resubmission.
Applications that pass the document verification phase move on to the eligibility assessment, where IRCC evaluates applicants against the immigration program’s requirements. Afterward, security screenings, background checks, and final decisions are made before permanent residency is granted.
With an increasing volume of applicants each year, understanding this structured yet meticulous process helps future newcomers prepare better and avoid delays. Maple News will continue to monitor updates to IRCC’s processing strategies and any efforts to improve overall efficiency as immigration remains a pillar of Canada’s growth.