According to Maple News, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced targeted processing plans for its permanent residence (PR) application inventory in 2025. While some programs will see their entire backlog cleared, others will continue to experience longer wait times as IRCC focuses on select streams.
The newly published 2025 immigration inventory strategy, released as part of the Minister’s Transition Binder, outlines which economic immigration programs will be prioritized for full processing. Canada’s Express Entry system and related Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams, as well as Quebec’s skilled worker and pilot programs, will have all their applications processed by the end of 2025. This includes major federal programs like the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
Community pilots such as the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot will also benefit from full inventory clearance. IRCC’s clear focus on these core economic pathways suggests an effort to streamline immigration processes for skilled individuals and respond to labor demands in key sectors.
However, not all PR streams will receive the same level of attention. Several economic pathways will only have a fraction of their backlogged applications processed in 2025. For example, the Start-up Visa Program will see just 2% of pending applications reviewed, while Quebec Business applicants can expect only 3% of their files to move forward. Other programs such as the Caregiver Pilot (14%), Agricultural Food Pilot (5%), and Atlantic Immigration Program (33%) will also see limited progress next year.
Base PNP streams that are not aligned with Express Entry will have 35% of their applications processed in 2025, while the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP), a program supporting refugees with skills and work experience, will process 12% of its inventory.
As of September 11, IRCC reported backlogs of 19,300 applications under the CEC and 12,500 under the FSWP. All of these are set to be finalized in 2025, which marks a significant commitment to clearing Express Entry applications.
This strategy suggests an ongoing transition within Canada’s immigration system—moving toward efficiency and digitization in certain streams while leaving others lagging. Applicants in less-prioritized programs may need to brace for extended wait times. IRCC’s choices reflect its intent to meet economic goals while gradually reshaping how immigration pathways are managed.
For applicants, this update offers a mixed picture: hope for those in Express Entry and Quebec pathways, but continued uncertainty for others. Maple News will continue to track IRCC processing updates and policy shifts as they unfold.