In the latest data update by the IRCC on September 26, 2023, it was revealed that Canada’s immigration backlog had increased by 5.25%. This data was based on figures as of August 31, 2023.
As of August 31, 2023, the IRCC was actively processing 2,198,700 applications for citizenship, immigration, and visas. Notably, the IRCC backlog increased by 5.25%, with a total of 844,700 applications in backlog status compared to 802,600 as of July 31, 2023.
In this article, we’ll dive into the latest developments regarding Canada’s immigration backlog, what it means, and how the government is addressing it.
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Temporary Residency Applications:
Temporary residency application backlogs decreased by 6.11%, a positive sign indicating progress in processing.
However, within this category, there was a significant drop of 14.52% in applications meeting IRCC service standards, resulting in an 11% rise in temporary residency backlogs. This implies that more applications are taking longer to process.
Citizenship Applications:
The IRCC backlog for citizenship applications decreased significantly by nearly 11%, which is good news for those seeking Canadian citizenship.
Moreover, applications within IRCC service standards decreased by a minor 0.44%, implying that most citizenship applications are being processed within the expected timeframes.
Permanent Residency Applications:
The IRCC backlog for permanent residency applications saw a slight increase of 0.17%, indicating relative stability.
On the positive side, the processing inventory for permanent residency applications increased by 2.30%, showing that more applications are being processed overall.
A Snapshot of Changes in Processing Inventory August 2023
Here’s a concise summary of the processing inventory changes for August 2023:
| Application Type | Processing Inventory as of August 31, 2023 | Percentage Change |
| Citizenship | 288,700 | -2.76% |
| Permanent Residence | 646,000 | 2.30% |
| Temporary Residence | 1,264,000 | -6.11% |
| Total | 2,198,700 | -3.34% |
These numbers provide a quick overview of the changes in processing inventory for different application types.
Latest IRCC Backlog Update As of August 31, 2023
All The IRCC Backlog Updates in 2023
| Date | Applications In Backlog | Total Applications Under Processing |
| 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 Projections 2023
The IRCC has provided projections for the end of 2023 regarding various application categories:
- Federal High Skilled and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP via Express Entry): 20% backlog.
- Citizenship and spousal sponsorship applications: 19–24% backlog.
- Study permits: 9% backlog.
- Work permits: 20% backlog.
- Temporary resident visas or visitor visas: 34% backlog.
It’s important to note that if the backlog percentage is 20% or below, the IRCC is meeting its service standards for that particular application type.
Difference between IRCC Backlog Data and Service Standards:
To understand the distinction between IRCC backlog data and IRCC service standards, consider this example:
- Spousal sponsorship applications typically take around a year to process. If an application is in progress and has not reached the 12-month mark, it is not considered part of the backlog.
- IRCC will consider such applications as part of regular processing. An application only enters the backlog if its processing time exceeds the 12-month limit.
The IRCC aims to process 80% of applications within these service standards.
What is the IRCC Backlog?
In simple terms, IRCC backlog refers to immigration applications that have exceeded the standard processing times established by the IRCC.
These applications differ from those being processed within the normal service standards, which are applications that fall within the stipulated time frame. Currently, the IRCC’s goal is to process 80% of all applications within their service standards.
