Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has seen a notable rise in its application backlog, which surpassed one million pending applications as of July 31, 2024. This marks the highest backlog figure in months, signaling increasing pressure on Canada’s immigration processing system.
According to newly released IRCC data, out of a total inventory of 2,364,700 applications, approximately 1,002,400 are now considered backlogged—meaning they have exceeded IRCC’s published service standards. The remaining 1,362,000 are being processed within expected timelines.
Compared to the same period last year, the total inventory has grown by 90,100 applications. However, the backlog has increased even more significantly—by 199,800—highlighting a widening gap between application inflow and processing capacity.
IRCC defines backlogged cases as those not finalized within its service standards, which vary by the type of application. For instance, Express Entry applications are expected to be processed within six months, while family sponsorship applications generally have a 12-month timeline.
As of July 2024, 766,200 permanent residence applications are in the IRCC queue. These include Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams aligned with Express Entry, and programs for sponsoring spouses, partners, and children. Of these, 299,000 applications are in the backlog category, with the remaining 467,200 being processed on time.
IRCC maintains a goal of processing 80% of all applications within their respective service standards. The remaining 20%—typically complex cases or those requiring additional documentation—take longer. In a previously released Access to Information request, the department acknowledged its ongoing efforts to reassess its service standards and pledged to release updated benchmarks by December 31, 2024.
The growing backlog comes amid broader efforts by IRCC to manage surging demand and shift focus toward permanent immigration pathways. This includes measures to reduce reliance on temporary resident programs, which have also faced scrutiny for contributing to system strains.
As Canada continues to prioritize talent and family reunification through immigration, efficient processing and system modernization will remain key to meeting both policy goals and the expectations of applicants worldwide.
Maple News will continue to monitor developments in IRCC operations and provide timely updates on Canadian immigration policy changes and service delivery.