IRCC disadvantage will rise in July
Canada Immigration Backlog Continues to Increase
As of July 31, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reported a total of 901,700 applications in their backlog, marking the third consecutive month of increase compared to previous months.
Backlog Trends Over the Past Six Months
| Month | Immigration Backlog | Change Compared to Previous Month |
|---|---|---|
| February 2025 | 821,200 | -7.95% |
| March 2025 | 779,900 | -5.03% |
| April 2025 | 760,200 | -2.53% |
| May 2025 | 802,000 | +5.5% |
| June 2025 | 842,800 | +5.02% |
| July 2025 | 901,700 | +6.98% |
Out of a total of 2,226,600 applications in the IRCC inventory, 1,324,900 were processed within the service standards by the end of July.
Understanding the IRCC Backlog
The IRCC considers applications as part of the backlog when they exceed the published service standards. This includes immigration applications that should ideally be processed within specific timeframes.
The goal of the IRCC is to process 80% of applications within the standard processing times, but certain complex cases may require additional time for review.
Permanent Residence Applications
As of July 31, there were 892,400 applications in the IRCC inventory for permanent residency programs, with approximately 50% meeting the service standards. This leaves 443,500 applications in the backlog, showing an increase from the previous month.
Notably, the backlog percentage for Express Entry applications and Provincial Nominee Program streams has been gradually increasing over the months.
Temporary Resident Permit Applications
There were 1,079,300 temporary stay applications in the IRCC inventory, with 62% processed within service standards. However, the backlog for work permits, study permits, and visitor visas has been on the rise.
Citizenship Applications
Despite other categories experiencing backlog increases, the backlog for citizenship applications has remained consistent at 19%.
