Canada’s immigration backlog has decreased to 821,200 as of March 2025, marking a 7.95% decline from 892,100 in January.
This reduction marks the third consecutive month the backlog has remained below one million, reflecting improved processing efforts by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
According to TravelBiz, as of February 2025, a total of 2,029,400 immigration applications were in progress, with 1,208,200 processed within the department’s service standards.
The IRCC processes applications for various immigration categories, including Express Entry and family sponsorships, with set service standards. For Express Entry applications, the expected processing time is six months, and for family sponsorships, the expected time is 12 months.
Reports inform that the IRCC aims to process 80% of applications within these timelines, with the remaining 20% taking longer due to complexities or additional requirements.
Since September 2024, the immigration backlog has steadily decreased. In that month, the backlog stood at over one million, but by February 2025, it had fallen to 821,200. This consistent reduction demonstrates that IRCC has improved its application processing capabilities.
The backlog count is generally decreasing month over month, with a significant drop of nearly 8% in February 2025 compared to January 2025.
As of February 2025, IRCC was processing 842,600 permanent residence applications, including those under Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and family sponsorships.
Visitor visas faced the highest backlog, with 65% of applications delayed, far exceeding the IRCC’s target of 50%. Study permits had a 45% backlog, while work permits showed the lowest delay rate at 34%, marking the lowest backlog since July 2023.
To manage the volume of applications, IRCC has introduced several strategies aimed at reducing delays:
The reduction in the immigration backlog has led to faster processing times, benefiting applicants seeking to travel, study, or immigrate to Canada. This progress is expected to reduce uncertainty and streamline transitions for those in the immigration process. However, significant delays persist for some categories of applications, such as visitor visas and study permits, and applicants are advised to plan ahead.
IRCC’s efforts to improve efficiency, such as automation, application caps, and stable immigration targets, are expected to continue driving faster processing times. Nonetheless, applicants for certain types of visas must still navigate delays, underscoring the importance of timely and careful planning.