IRCC Backlog Drops Under 1 Million as Work Permit Wait Times Ease, Maple News Reports

Maple News reports that IRCC’s total application backlog fell to 990,300 as of January 31, the first time it slipped below one million since October 2025, helped by easing work permit wait times. The update also highlights notable shifts across streams, with the study permit backlog up 14 percent, the work permit backlog down 8 percent, and the enhanced Provincial Nominee Program backlog down 6 percent.\n\nAt month end, IRCC’s total application inventory stood at 2,092,000, a monthly decrease of 35,500 applications. During the same period, the department processed 1,101,700 applications within service standards.\n\nOver the past six months, the backlog has fluctuated: August 2025 — 958,850; September 2025 — 996,700; October 2025 — 1,006,700; November 2025 — 1,005,800; December 2025 — 1,014,700; January 2026 — 990,300, a 2.41% month-over-month drop.\n\nPermanent residence (PR) applications totaled 995,500 at the end of January, up 21,700 from December. Of these, 460,200 (46%) were processed within service standards, leaving 535,300 in backlog. This PR category includes Express Entry, Express Entry–aligned Provincial Nominee Program, and family sponsorship applications outside Quebec.\n\nThe Express Entry backlog continued to decline, with 15% of Express Entry applications in backlog (down from 20% in December), and this level remains within IRCC’s January projection of 35% backlog for this category. IRCC continues to prioritize clearing backlogs across programs while managing ongoing intake, with seasonal dynamics and policy adjustments shaping the latest movements.