The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released the most recent data on the immigration application backlog on August 29, 2024.
This report reveals a record 2,364,700 citizenship, immigration, and visa applications under processing as of July 31. This data is always a monthly retrospective.
Furthermore, the backlog, i.e., the applications exceeding normal IRCC service standards, has soared past the 1 million mark to 1,002,400 for the first time ever since November 2022.
The data covers various application categories, including citizenship, permanent residence, and temporary residence.
Category-Wise Backlog Overview
As of July 31, 2024, the total number of applications across all categories stood at 2,364,700.
Of these, 1,002,400 applications are categorized as backlogged, exceeding the normal service standards, while 1,362,300 are still being processed within service standards.
Here’s a detailed breakdown:
| Application Type | Applications With Backlog | Applications Within Service Standards | Total Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship | 39,000 | 193,500 | 232,500 |
| Permanent Residence | 299,000 | 467,200 | 766,200 |
| Temporary Residence | 664,400 | 701,600 | 1,366,000 |
| Total | 1,002,400 | 1,362,300 | 2,364,700 |
Comparison with Previous Data
A month-on-month comparison with previous backlog data as of June 30 and May 31, 2024, reveals significant changes across all application types.
Applications in Backlog Comparison:
| Application Type | Backlog (July 31) | Backlog (June 30) | June 30 to Aug 29 Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship | 39,000 | 40,500 | -3.70% |
| Permanent Residence | 299,000 | 301,800 | -0.93% |
| Temporary Residence | 664,400 | 594,300 | 11.80% |
| Total | 1,002,400 | 936,600 | 7.02% |
The data shows a decrease in the backlog for citizenship and permanent residence applications from June 30 to July 31, with citizenship applications dropping by 3.70% and permanent residence by 0.93%.
However, temporary residence applications have seen a significant increase, rising by 11.80%, contributing to the overall increase in the total backlog by 7.02% over the two-month period.
Applications Within Service Standards Comparison
| Application Type | Within Service Standards (July 31) | Within Service Standards (June 30) | June 30 to July 31 Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship | 193,500 | 198,900 | -2.71% |
| Permanent Residence | 467,200 | 451,900 | 3.38% |
| Temporary Residence | 701,600 | 705,000 | -0.48% |
| Total | 1,362,300 | 1,355,800 | 0.49% |
For applications processed within service standards, the data reveals a slight decrease in citizenship applications by 2.71% from June 30 to July 31.
Conversely, permanent residence applications processed within standards increased by 3.38%, and temporary residence applications showed a marginal decrease of 0.48% over the same period.
This data suggests that an increasing number of temporary residence applications fell into backlog exceeding their normal processing times.
Future Backlog Projections
The IRCC’s ongoing efforts to address the backlog are expected to continue, with projections indicating a potential decrease in the total backlog by 20-30% by mid-2025.
Below are the official IRCC backlog projections by the end of this month:
| Category | Backlog projected by end of August 2024 | Actual Backlog at the end of July 2024 | What IRCC Projected by End of July 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship | 16% | 17% | 17% |
| Express Entry | 15% | 17% | 15% |
| Express Entry PNP | 20% | 23% | 20% |
| Spouses, partners, and children (except for Quebec) | 15% | 14% | 15% |
| Temporary Resident Visas (TRV) | 43% | 64% | 60% |
| Study Permits | 18% | 24% | 12% |
| Work Permits | 22% | 43% | 28% |
The focus remains on enhancing processing efficiency, particularly in the temporary and permanent residence categories, which have shown the most significant fluctuations in recent months.
The IRCC’s strategies include expanding the use of technology, optimizing resources, and implementing policy adjustments to meet the rising demand for immigration services.
These measures aim to ensure that the Canadian immigration system remains responsive and efficient despite the growing number of applications.
Implications for Applicants
The IRCC goal is to process 80% of applications within their service standards so any backlog below 20% is considered normal.
The ongoing backlog and future projections suggest that IRCC has met their goal for citizenship, express entry, and family sponsorship applications.
However, the department is still struggling to deal with temporary residence applications, predominantly due to the increase in new application inflow.
These temporary residence applications include temporary resident visas (TRVs), study permits, and work permits, with TRVs and work permits applicants to be affected the most.
Conclusion
The July 2024 backlog data highlights both the challenges and progress within the Canadian immigration system.
While certain categories have seen improvements, the increase in temporary residence applications indicates a continued need for focused efforts by the IRCC.
With future projections pointing to potential improvements, applicants are encouraged to stay informed about their application status and any updates from the IRCC.
All The Official IRCC Backlog Updates Since January 2023
You can click on the below dates to see details of a particular backlog update listed below:
| Backlog Update Date | Applications In Backlog | Total Applications Under Processing |
| July 31, 2024 | 1,002,400 | 1,362,300 |
| June 30, 2024 | 936,600 | 2,292,400 |
| May 31, 2024 | 878,400 | 2,220,000 |
| April 30, 2024 | 897,100 | 2,220,200 |
| March 31, 2024 | 892,000 | 2,212,000 |
| February 29, 2024 | 899,150 | 2,126,200 |
| January 31, 2024 | 930,000 | 2,188,400 |
| December 31, 2023 | 949,500 | 2,221,100 |
| November 30, 2023 | 890,300 | 2,092,700 |
| October 31, 2023 | 936,500 | 2,166,800 |
| September 30, 2023 | 928,500 | 2,194,900 |
| August 31, 2023 | 844,700 | 2,198,700 |
| July 31, 2023 | 802,600 | 2,274,600 |
| June 30, 2023 | 801,000 | 2,264,000 |
| May 31, 2023 | 820,000 | 2,248,000 |
| April 30, 2023 | 809,000 | 2,006,000 |
| March 31, 2023 | 896,300 | 2,017,700 |
| February 28, 2023 | 910,400 | 1,962,600 |
| January 31, 2023 | 974,600 | 1,944,500 |
IRCC Backlog Updates Since January 2023
What does IRCC backlog mean?
IRCC backlog refers to the applications under processing that exceed the normal set IRCC service standards for processing a particular application category.
Click here for official IRCC service standards for processing various applications.
How many immigration applications are under processing at IRCC?
2,364,700 citizenship, immigration, and visa applications were under processing as of July 31, according to the most recent IRCC data revealed on August 29.
