Canada has cut its immigration backlog by close to 49,000 applications, helping speed up processing in several major categories.
Canada’s immigration system has started to move faster, with new figures showing shorter wait times for several key applications. The latest data reveals a steady drop in pending cases, bringing some relief to applicants waiting for decisions.
The total number of pending immigration applications fell sharply by 48,900 over the past month. As of February 28, the backlog stood at 941,400 cases. This marks the lowest level since July 2025, showing clear progress in reducing delays.
Work permit applications saw the biggest improvement, with an 11% drop in backlog. Visitor visas followed with a 6% decline, while both Express Entry and study permit backlogs decreased by 4%.
Despite the drop in pending cases, the overall number of applications in the system reached 2,092,700. Officials handled over 1.15 million applications within standard timelines, showing stronger processing capacity.
Permanent residence applications crossed one million by the end of February. Out of these, nearly half met standard processing timelines, while over 536,000 remained in backlog.
Express Entry showed one of the most notable improvements. The backlog rate dropped to 11%, the lowest level recorded since officials began tracking this data. Provincial nominee applications also improved, with backlog levels falling to 40%.
Family sponsorship cases remained stable at 22%, although expected backlog levels for this category increased slightly.
In the first two months of 2026, officials processed over 70,000 permanent residence applications and welcomed more than 53,000 new residents into the country.
Temporary residence applications also showed progress. The total number of applications dropped to 824,500, with a reduction of nearly 21,000 cases in one month.
Work permits recorded a strong improvement. The backlog rate fell to 27%, down from 38% in January. Study permit delays also eased slightly, while visitor visa backlogs dropped to 48%.
During January and February, authorities finalized more than 302,000 work permit applications and over 74,000 study permit applications.
Citizenship applications increased slightly to 260,800. However, processing remained efficient, with 77% of applications handled within standard timelines.
The backlog rate for citizenship dropped to 23%, staying well within expected limits. Over 509,000 people became Canadian citizens between April 2025 and the end of February 2026.
Service standards set the expected time for most applications. For example, Express Entry cases usually take about six months, while family sponsorship may take up to a year.
Applications that take longer than these timelines count as backlog. Officials note that some cases require extra checks, which can extend processing time.
Overall, the latest figures show steady progress. Shorter backlogs and faster processing suggest a more efficient system, offering hope to applicants waiting for decisions.
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