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Canada’s Immigration Backlog Continues to Improve: Inventory Drops to 892,000 in the First Month of 2025

Total Backlog Stays Below One Million for Two Consecutive Months

According to data released by IRCC on January 31, 2025, the total immigration backlog stood at 892,000 cases, down 5.33% from 942,000 at the end of December 2024. Since August 2024, the backlog has decreased by a total of 17.3%. During the same period, IRCC’s total inventory of applications fell from 2.119 million to 2.076 million, with the number of applications processed within service standards increasing from 1.177 million to 1.184 million.

Definition and Classification of Backlogs

IRCC defines a “backlog” as applications that exceed its published service standards. For example, Express Entry applications exceeding six months and family sponsorship applications exceeding 12 months are considered backlogged. The latest data shows significant differences across application categories.

Permanent Resident Programs: Surge in Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Backlogs

As of the end of January 2025, there were 839,000 permanent residence applications, with 58% processed within service standards and a backlog rate of 42%.

  • Express Entry: 20% of applications exceeded processing time limits (80% still met the six-month processing target).
  • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP, Express Entry stream): The backlog rate increased from 25% in December 2024 to 30%.
  • Family Sponsorship: The backlog rate remained stable at 15%, aligning with expectations.

Temporary Resident Programs: Visitor Visa Backlog Hits 71%

Among 998,000 temporary resident applications, only 504,000 (51%) were processed on time, leaving a backlog of 493,000 cases. There were stark differences across categories:

  • Visitor visas: 71% of applications were backlogged, 9 percentage points above expectations.
  • Study permits: The backlog rate increased from 43% to 45%.
  • Work permits: The backlog rate dropped sharply from 57% to 42%, indicating a significant improvement in processing efficiency.

Citizenship Applications: 82% Processed on Time

Among 238,000 citizenship applications, 82% met service standards, with a backlog rate of just 18%—the lowest among all categories.

Policy Adjustments and Potential Challenges

To further address backlog issues, the Canadian government released the 2025-27 Immigration Levels Plan in October 2024, which aims to reduce permanent residence intake targets over the next three years and set caps on certain immigration programs.

At the beginning of 2025, the government implemented intake caps for study permits and permanent residence applications under the Agri-Food Pilot; the latter has already reached its annual quota and is no longer accepting new applications. Additionally, IRCC has announced plans to cut approximately 3,300 jobs over the next three years, raising concerns about processing efficiency and potential delays. Balancing process optimization and human resource adjustments will be a key challenge for Canada’s future immigration management.

  • Study permit application caps for 2025
  • Permanent residence application limits under the Agri-Food Pilot
  • Planned reduction of approximately 3,300 jobs over the next three years

Conclusion

IRCC has recently made progress in reducing application volumes and improving processing efficiency, but key areas such as PNP, visitor visas, and study permits continue to face significant pressure. Moving forward, how the Canadian government manages both job cuts and lower immigration targets will directly impact immigration and study permit processing efficiency as well as applicant experience.

安大略省宣布新规,简化跨省专业人士执业认证流程
Ontario Announces New Regulations to Streamline Certification for Interprovincial Professionals
The Government of Ontario has recently announced a major reform framework known as "As of Right," designed to break down interprovincial barriers and significantly simplify the certification process for professionals in regulated occupations coming from other Canadian provinces. The new rules, scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, will shorten the certification period from the current several months to as little as 10 business days, thereby promoting free labour mobility within Canada. This initiative will not only have a profound impact on professions like architects and engineers but also establishes a special fast-track entry for certain healthcare professionals from Canada and the United States, potentially creating new opportunities for individuals seeking to immigrate through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).
09/08/2025
安大略省PNP项目再发逾1800份邀请,重点吸纳境内紧缺职业人才
Ontario PNP Issues Over 1,800 Invitations, Targeting In-Canada Candidates in High-Demand Occupations
On September 3, 2025, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducted two pivotal draws, issuing 1,893 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for provincial nomination to candidates already residing in Canada and possessing job offers in 77 specific priority occupations. These draws primarily targeted the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker and Employer Job Offer: International Student streams, with minimum scores of 42 and 63, respectively. Notably, these invitations were issued following the shift to an employer-led application process in Ontario's immigration system, underscoring the province's ongoing demand for specific skilled talent and reflecting its dynamic adjustments to immigration policy.
09/05/2025
加拿大快速通道最新抽签:向法语人才发出4500份申请邀请
Canada's Latest Express Entry Draw Issues 4,500 Invitations to French-Speaking Candidates
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its third Express Entry draw of the week on September 4, 2025, specifically inviting candidates with French-language proficiency. A total of 4,500 Invitations to Apply (ITA) were issued in this round, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement of 446. This draw highlights the Canadian immigration system's continued emphasis on supporting Francophone communities and attracting candidates with specific skills.
09/05/2025
阿尔伯塔省提名项目定向邀请执法人员,最低分数线创年内新低
Alberta PNP Targets Law Enforcement Professionals in New Draw, Minimum Score Hits 2025 Low
On August 19, 2025, the province of Alberta conducted a targeted draw through its Provincial Nominee Program's (AAIP) Law Enforcement Pathway. While fewer than 10 invitations were issued, the minimum qualifying score was only 45, one of the lowest this year. This dedicated immigration stream aims to help the province recruit police and other law enforcement professionals to address local public safety and recruitment objectives. Data reveals that despite the low score, competition remains high due to a limited annual quota and a significant number of candidates in the pool.
09/04/2025
加拿大移民快速通道发出新一轮邀请,聚焦加拿大经验类别
Canada Issues New Round of Express Entry Invitations, Focusing on Canadian Experience Class
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its latest Express Entry draw on September 3, 2025. This draw specifically targeted candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), issuing a total of 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for invited candidates was 534. This draw marks the ninth invitation round for this category so far this year.
09/04/2025
加拿大九月首轮快速通道抽签:聚焦省提名项目,249人获邀
Canada Invites 249 PNP Candidates in First Express Entry Draw of September
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its first Express Entry draw of September on September 2, 2025, issuing 249 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this draw was 772. Data indicates that the PNP continues to be the primary category for invitations in 2025, highlighting its central role in Canada's immigration system.
09/03/2025
安大略省省提名项目发布最新邀请,重点面向安省北部及特定社区的申请人
Ontario Provincial Nominee Program Issues New Invitations, Targeting Candidates in Northern Ontario and Specific Communities
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) held five targeted provincial nomination draws on August 28, 2025, issuing a total of 468 invitations to apply to eligible candidates. These invitations primarily focused on two categories of applicants: foreign workers and international students with job offers in Northern Ontario, and candidates who qualify for the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot program with an employer job offer in a specific community. This round of invitations again highlights Ontario's strategic direction of using immigration policy to address labour shortages in specific regions.
09/02/2025
萨斯喀彻温省提名移民配额增加,优先行业申请迎来新机
Saskatchewan Receives Increased Immigration Allocation, Creating New Opportunities for Priority Sectors
The Canadian province of Saskatchewan has announced that its 2025 Provincial Nominee Program (SINP) has received an additional 1,136 nominations from the federal government, bringing its total annual allocation to 4,761. This adjustment reopens application pathways for several sectors that were previously paused due to reaching their caps. Against a backdrop of diverging immigration allocation trends across Canada, this development in Saskatchewan, along with increases in several other provinces, highlights the complex and evolving landscape of federal and provincial immigration policies.
08/29/2025
爱德华王子岛省提名更新:2025年第八轮抽签重点邀请省内技术工人与特定院校毕业生
PEI PNP Update: Eighth Draw of 2025 Targets In-Province Skilled Workers and Graduates from Designated Institutions
On August 21, 2025, Canada's Prince Edward Island (PEI) held its eighth Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) draw of the year, issuing a total of 132 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates. This draw continued to focus on applicants already living and working in the province in high-demand occupations, with special priority given to international graduates from three designated local post-secondary institutions. To date, PEI has issued a cumulative total of 792 invitations in 2025.
08/28/2025
BC省公布最新企业家移民抽选结果,重点类别分数线小幅波动
British Columbia Holds New Entrepreneur Immigration Draw, Score Requirements Shift
The province of British Columbia held a new Provincial Nominee Program draw on August 19, 2025, exclusively targeting candidates in the Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) category. A total of no more than 16 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued through the Base and Regional Pilot streams. The results confirm a clear trend in 2025, with the BC PNP prioritizing business and investment streams, marking this the sixth entrepreneur-focused draw of the year.
08/27/2025
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