Canada saw an increase in its immigration backlog in May, with the number of pending applications reaching 802,000. This marks the first rise after several months of steady declines.
Canada’s immigration backlog has grown again after steady drops over several months. As of May 31, there were 802,000 pending applications in the backlog. In April, the number stood at 760,200. That’s a 5.5% increase in just one month.
This is the first time since October 2024 that the backlog has gone up instead of down.
Here's how the backlog changed in the last six months:
For five months straight, the backlog had been shrinking. But May reversed that trend.
The immigration department currently holds over 2.1 million applications. Out of these, about 1.3 million are being handled on time, within the expected service standards.
Any application that takes longer than the department’s promised time is called part of the backlog. For example, Express Entry should be processed in six months. Family sponsorships take about 12 months. If these timelines aren’t met, the file goes into the backlog.
IRCC aims to finish 80% of all applications within their deadlines. However, more complex cases needing extra documents may take longer.
Permanent Residence Applications
As of the end of April, 897,900 applications for permanent residence were in progress. These include:
Out of these, 495,500 (55%) were on track, while 402,400 had crossed their deadlines and joined the backlog.
In May, PR applications increased by 11,400.
Backlog Breakdown:
This group includes visitor visas, work permits, and study permits. By May-end, 64% of TR applications were on time. Out of 973,300 total TR cases, 620,000 met the standard, while 353,300 were late.
Category-specific delays:
These are stable, with 19% in the backlog in both April and May. This matches the department’s target rate.
The immigration department is using automation and advanced tools to sort and speed up files. These tools help officers find complex cases faster and reduce human error.
Canada’s latest immigration plan also aims to lower permanent resident targets slightly. This may ease the load in the coming months.
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