Maple News reports that Canada’s immigration system continues to struggle with delays, as the total backlog of applications exceeded one million by the end of October 2025. According to newly released data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a total of 2,182,200 applications were in processing queues, but only 1,175,500 were within the federally established service standards — leaving over a million applications categorized as backlogged.
The backlog represents the number of applications that have surpassed IRCC’s standard processing times for each immigration category. In October alone, the Express Entry backlog surged by 29% relative to September, underlining increasing pressure on Canada’s flagship economic immigration system.
Permanent residence programs remain heavily burdened with 928,800 applications in inventory as of October 31, up 15,000 from September. Of these, only 46% (427,500) met service standards, while the remaining 501,300 applications were delayed. This category includes programs such as Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and family sponsorships.
The Express Entry backlog growth is especially notable because Canada has relied on this system to meet its skilled economic immigration targets. The delay raises concerns for applicants outside Canada, many of whom are professionals critical to filling labour shortages in healthcare, technology, and engineering sectors.
Interestingly, there was a positive indication in the study permit category, which saw a reduction in the backlog — the first drop recorded since July 2025. Given the increased scrutiny and adjustments to international student policies in recent months, this slight improvement could suggest better alignment between policy and processing workloads.
The trajectory of the backlog over the course of 2025 underscores a broader systemic challenge: from a low of 760,200 pending applications in April, the backlog steadily climbed to 1,006,700 by October, a 32% increase in just six months. Despite IRCC’s efforts to streamline workflows and leverage technology, the rising numbers highlight a growing gap between immigration demand and processing capacity.
The implications of the backlog extend beyond inconvenience. For many applicants, delays affect major life decisions including employment, education, and family reunification. As Canada continues to welcome record-high immigration levels, there is increasing urgency for IRCC to modernize and scale operations to prevent further accumulation of delays.
Maple News will continue monitoring IRCC data releases and provide timely updates on Canada’s immigration system and application processing performance.