As of May 31, 2023, Canada’s Immigration backlog has increased slightly, with a 1.35% jump to 820,000. This update, according to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), was published on June 16, 2023.
There was a significant surge of new applications across all categories leading to a rise in application processing within the standard IRCC service timeframe. This figure spiked by 231,000, hitting a total of 1,428,000.
By the end of May 2023, IRCC was handling an estimated 2.25 million applications, marking the highest inventory since September 2022. Only permanent residency applications saw a reduction in backlog, by about 4.34% compared to the April 30 update.
However, it’s not all reductions: the backlog for citizenship applications jumped impressively by 13.69%, and the temporary residency applications backlog saw an increase of 3.62%. Moreover, new temporary residency applications saw an approximately 30% increase, as indicated by IRCC data.
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Current Status of Canada’s Immigration Backlog
As of May 31, 2023, the following is the state of Canada’s immigration backlog:
- Total applications in all IRCC inventories: 2,248,000
- Applications within service standards: 1,428,000
- Applications in backlog (exceeding service standards): 820,000
| Application Type | Total Applications | Backlog | Applications Within Standards |
| Citizenship | 308,000 | 83,000 | 225,000 |
| Permanent Residence | 640,000 | 308,000 | 332,000 |
| Temporary Residence | 1,300,000 | 429,000 | 871,000 |
| Total | 2,248,000 | 820,000 | 1,428,000 |
Summary of Canada’s Immigration Backlog 2023
Looking back at Canada’s immigration backlog data over the past few months gives us a good sense of the trends and changes.
| Date | Backlog | Total Applications Under Processing |
| 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 |
From January to May 2023, there has been a reduction in the backlog from 974,600 to 820,000. This represents a significant decrease of nearly 16%, despite a marginal increase from April to May.
Canada’s Immigration Backlog Projections 2023
The IRCC data also includes backlog projections for various application types, providing a glimpse into the future. Here’s what we can anticipate:
- Federal High Skilled (Including Express Entry): Reduction to 20% by July 2023
- Express Entry Provincial Nominee Program: Reduction to 22% by July 2023
- Spouses, Partners, and Children Applications: Steady at 24% till July 2023
- Citizenship: Steady at 24% till July 2023
- Study Permit: Reduction to 15% by July 2023
- Work Permit: Reduction to 22% by July 2023
- Temporary Residence Visa (Visitor Visa): Reduction to 42% by July 2023
Backlog of Federal High-Skilled Applications
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
| Jan 23 | 20% | 20% |
| Feb 23 | 20% | 20% |
| Mar 23 | 18% | 20% |
| Apr 23 | 17% | 20% |
| May 23 | 15% | 20% |
| Jun 23 | – | 20% |
| Jul 23 | – | 20% |
Backlog of Provincial Nominee Program (Express Entry) Applications
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
| Jan 23 | 38% | 40% |
| Feb 23 | 32% | 39% |
| Mar 23 | 30% | 32% |
| Apr 23 | 28% | 30% |
| May 23 | 30% | 28% |
| Jun 23 | – | 24% |
| Jul 23 | – | 22% |
The Comprehensive Guide to Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
Backlog of Spouses, Partners and Children (except for Quebec) Applications
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
| Jan 23 | 24% | 24% |
| Feb 23 | 23% | 24% |
| Mar 23 | 24% | 24% |
| Apr 23 | 23% | 24% |
| May 23 | 20% | 24% |
| Jun 23 | – | 24% |
| Jul 23 | – | 24% |
Backlog of Citizenship Grant Applications
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
| Jan 23 | 27% | 26% |
| Feb 23 | 26% | 25% |
| Mar 23 | 25% | 24% |
| Apr 23 | 25% | 24% |
| May 23 | 23% | 24% |
| Jun 23 | – | 24% |
| Jul 23 | – | 24% |
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Backlog of Temporary Resident Visas (TRV)
Approximately 19% of temporary resident visa (or visitor visa) applications in our inventories are from the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel.
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
| Jan 23 | 68% | 68% |
| Feb 23 | 64% | 68% |
| Mar 23 | 61% | 65% |
| Apr 23 | 50% | 56% |
| May 23 | 45% | 42% |
| Jun 23 | – | 42% |
| Jul 23 | – | 42% |
Backlog of Study Permits
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
| Jan 23 | 35% | 36% |
| Feb 23 | 29% | 34% |
| Mar 23 | 23 % | 25% |
| Apr 23 | 18% | 22% |
| May 23 | 17% | 15% |
| Jun 23 | – | 15% |
| Jul 23 | – | 15% |
Study Permit for Canada: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Application and Requirements
Backlog of Work Permits
Approximately 72% of work permits in our inventories are from the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel.
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
| Jan 23 | 26% | 26% |
| Feb 23 | 23% | 28% |
| Mar 23 | 18 % | 28% |
| Apr 23 | 22% | 26% |
| May 23 | 27% | 24% |
| Jun 23 | – | 22% |
| Jul 23 | – | 22% |
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) in Canada: The Complete Guide for International Students
What is Canada’s Immigration Backlog?
In simple terms, Canada’s immigration 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.
Difference between Backlog vs. Service Standard:
Finally, it’s essential to distinguish between a backlog and applications within the service standard. If an application is being processed within the expected time frame (say 12 months), it’s considered ‘within service standard’ and not a backlog. However, if the processing time exceeds the set standard, it’s deemed to be part of the backlog.
The ultimate aim of the IRCC is to process 80% of applications within service standards.
Conclusion
While the slight increase in Canada’s immigration backlog might seem concerning, the surge in applications being processed within IRCC’s service standards offers a promising counterpoint. This dynamic reveals an active and responsive immigration system striving to maintain its effectiveness despite the mounting demands.
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