Maple News reports that the inventory of unprocessed immigration applications in Canada continues to expand, raising concerns about service delivery as the federal government signals plans to reduce immigration levels in 2025.
As of September 30, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had a total of 1,097,000 applications awaiting processing beyond the department’s published service standards. That marks a 1.73% increase from August 31, when the number stood at approximately 1,078,300 applications. Back in July, the backlog had already surpassed one million for the first time in several months, with 1,002,400 applications awaiting a decision.
Despite the growing backlog, IRCC has made marginal progress in the number of applications being processed on time. By the end of September, 1,353,600 applications were being handled within service standards—an improvement of 0.83% from August’s 1,342,500.
Currently, IRCC’s total application inventory sits at around 2.45 million. Out of that number, nearly 55% are being processed within the department’s target timelines.
IRCC defines an application as part of the ‘backlog’ if it has exceeded the published service standards. These standards vary depending on the type of application. For example, the department aims to process 80% of Express Entry applications within six months. However, IRCC notes that when application volumes surpass available immigration spots, delays become inevitable.
The backlog poses a growing challenge for Canada’s immigration system, especially as the country prepares to adjust its immigration targets. Earlier announcements from the federal government suggested intentions to moderate immigration levels in 2025, particularly in the temporary resident and international student categories. Tightening targets, combined with a rising application load, could intensify processing delays.
With Canada’s economy still leaning on skilled immigration to tackle labor shortages, prolonged delays risk creating friction for both employers and applicants. Experts have urged IRCC to modernize its processing systems further and allocate targeted resources to reduce the longstanding accumulation of overdue files.
The backlog also underscores the importance for applicants and potential newcomers to stay informed about processing timelines and to submit fully completed applications to avoid additional delays. IRCC says it remains committed to processing 80% of applications within service standards—but acknowledges that achieving this goal may be increasingly difficult under current volume pressures.
Maple News will continue to monitor changes to Canada’s immigration targets, backlogs, and policy shifts impacting prospective immigrants and employers.