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On April , 2025, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a significant reduction in its immigration application backlog, marking a positive development for prospective immigrants.
Key Highlights of the Backlog Reduction
• Total Backlog Decrease: The backlog decreased by 41,300 applications, bringing the total number of applications exceeding standard processing times to 779,900 as of March 31, 2025. This is a notable improvement from 821,200 in February and 892,100 in January.
• Overall Application Inventory: The total inventory of applications across all categories—citizenship, permanent residency, and temporary residency—stood at 1,976,700, down from 2,029,400 in February. Breakdown by Application Category
• Permanent Residency (PR):
o Total Inventory: 852,700 applications
o Backlog: 380,100 applications (45% of total)
o Change: An increase from 842,600 total and 364,000 backlogged applications in February.
• Temporary Residency:
o Total Inventory: 884,600 applications
o Backlog: 356,200 applications (40% of total)
o Change: A significant decrease from 947,200 total and 414,500 backlogged applications in February.
• Citizenship:
o Total Inventory: 239,400 applications
o Backlog: 43,600 applications (18% of total)
o Change: A slight increase from 42,700 backlogged applications in February.
IRCC's Processing Achievements in Q1 2025
Between January and March 2025, IRCC demonstrated enhanced processing capabilities:
• Finalized 119,800 permanent residency decisions.
• Welcomed 104,300 new permanent residents.
• Processed 159,200 study permit applications.
• Processed 396,000 work permit applications, including extensions.
These efforts align with Canada's target of welcoming 485,000 new permanent residents in 2025.
Understanding IRCC's Service Standards
IRCC aims to process 80% of applications within specific service standards, which vary by application type. For instance:Spousal Sponsorship: 12 months
• Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker): 6 months
• Study Permits: 8 weeks
• Citizenship Applications: 12 months Applications exceeding these timeframes are considered backlogged.
Implications for Applicants
The reduction in backlog indicates IRCC's commitment to improving processing times and efficiency. However, certain categories, such as permanent residency and temporary residency, still experience significant backlogs, suggesting ongoing challenges in meeting service standards.
For applicants, this progress may lead to shorter wait times and more predictable processing durations in the future. Nonetheless, it's advisable to stay informed about specific program timelines and prepare for potential delays in certain application categories.
Source :- https://immigrationnewscanada.ca/ircc-update-canada-immigration-backlog-ap/
