Canada’s Refugee Backlog Hits 2026 Low as Appeals Rise

Canada’s refugee protection backlog fell again in August 2026, reaching its lowest monthly level of the year as officials finalized far more claims than they received.

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) reported 259,085 cases pending before its Refugee Protection Division (RPD) at month’s end. That compares with 267,726 in July and 300,084 in December 2025.

Eight Months of Declines

The RPD received 2,898 new claims in August and finalized 11,590. Its pending inventory dropped by 8,641 cases from July.

The decline has continued every month this year. January ended with 299,907 pending claims, followed by 298,149 in February, 295,448 in March and 292,997 in April. The total fell to 286,982 in May, 276,650 in June and 267,726 in July before reaching August’s level.

Finalizations peaked in June at 13,072, then remained high at 11,621 in July and 11,590 in August.

Far Fewer New Claims Than in 2024

August’s intake was also well below the 13,235 claims recorded in August 2024. Fewer incoming cases, alongside sustained finalizations, have helped shrink the inventory.

Despite the improvement, August’s inventory exceeded the 240,041 claims awaiting an RPD decision in August 2024, according to the IRB’s own published monthly figures.

The figures do not establish why intake has changed. IRB statistics describe the number of claims received and resolved, rather than identifying a single explanation for the decline.

The board also cautions that monthly figures may change. A case finalized in August could have been referred to the division much earlier.

What a Finalized Claim Means

People can make refugee claims at a Canadian port of entry or from inside the country. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or the Canada Border Services Agency first determines whether a claim can be referred to the IRB.

The RPD then considers whether the person meets the requirements for refugee protection.

Its finalization count includes claims accepted or rejected, as well as withdrawn, abandoned and other cases. The 11,590 August finalizations therefore should not be read as 11,590 approvals.

Appeals Backlog Moves Higher

The Refugee Appeal Division (RAD), which reviews eligible RPD decisions, recorded a different trend.

It received 1,125 appeals in August and finalized 875. Pending appeals rose to 6,199 from 5,949 in July.

The two inventories measure different stages of the refugee determination process. A smaller RPD backlog does not necessarily mean fewer pending appeals, especially when more appeals arrive than are finalized.

What the Numbers Mean for Claimants

The national decline shows that the RPD has reduced its outstanding workload, but it does not set a timeline for any individual case.

Hearing schedules, documents, procedural steps and possible appeals can affect how long a claim takes. Applicants should rely on their own case records and official IRB communications for updates.

August’s statistics show progress in clearing first-instance claims, while the growing appeals inventory remains a separate pressure on the system.