IRCC backlog drops to 910,400 despite increase in new applications
IRCC backlog drops by around 64,000 as per new official data updated by the Canadian immigration department on March 17.
IRCC backlog now stands at 910,400 which is an all-time low number since the processing woes started in pandemic.
This reduction in IRCC backlog has been registered along all the business lines including Citizenship(-7.2%), Permanent residency(-3.78%), and temporary residency(-8.28%).
Furthermore, there has been increase of 82,300 in new immigration applications as of February 28, 2023.
Canada immigration department was processing 1,052,200 files within IRCC service standards in the end of last month.
In total, IRCC was processing 1,962,600 immigration/visa applications as of February 28.
| Date | Backlog | Total Applications Under Processing |
|---|---|---|
| February 28, 2023 | 910,400 | 1,962,600 |
| January 31, 2023 | 974,600 | 1,944,500 |
| December 31, 2022 | 918,300 | 1,973,800 |
| November 30, 2022 | 1,086,200 | 2,111,400 |
| October 31, 2022 | 1,202,790 | 2,239,700 |
| September 30, 2022 | 1,322,500 | 2,610,700 |
It is important to note that IRCC backlog data and service standard data are different as explained below.
For example, if the typical processing period for spousal sponsorship is 12 months, an application that is being processed within 12 months is “NOT” a backlog. Instead, it will be treated as regular processing.
But, if it surpasses the 12-month service threshold, then only it should be regarded a backlog.
The IRCC aims to process 80% of applications within these service standards. Learn more about IRCC service standards.
| Application Type | Overall Processing Inventory | Backlog | Within Service Standards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship | 299,000 | 77,000 | 222,000 |
| Permanent Residence | 622,600 | 335,400 | 287,200 |
| Temporary Residence | 1,041,000 | 498,000 | 543,000 |
| Total | 1,962,600 | 910,400 | 1052,200 |
IRCC Backlog Projections For 2023
1. Backlog Projections For Federal High Skilled
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 89% | |
| Feb 22 | 92% | |
| Mar 22 | 98% | |
| Apr 22 | 99% | |
| May 22 | 100% | |
| Jun 22 | 100% | |
| Jul 22 | 99% | |
| Aug 22 | 90% | 86% |
| Sep 22 | 68% | 72% |
| Oct 22 | 45% | 59% |
| Nov 22 | 31% | 46% |
| Dec 22 | 22% | 20% |
| Jan 23 | 20% | 20% |
| Feb 23 | 20% | 20% |
| Mar 23 | – | 20% |
| Apr 23 | – | 20% |
| May 23 | – | 20% |
2. Backlog Projections For Express Entry Provincial Nominee Program
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 56% | |
| Feb 22 | 55% | |
| Mar 22 | 54% | |
| Apr 22 | 51% | |
| May 22 | 47% | |
| Jun 22 | 45% | |
| Jul 22 | 43% | |
| Aug 22 | 42% | 39% |
| Sep 22 | 40% | 35% |
| Oct 22 | 42% | 31% |
| Nov 22 | 42% | 28% |
| Dec 22 | 41% | 20% |
| Jan 23 | 38% | 40% |
| Feb 23 | 32% | 39% |
| Mar 23 | – | 32% |
| Apr 23 | – | 30% |
| May 23 | – | 28% |
3. Backlog Projections for Spouses, Partners and children applications
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 34% | |
| Feb 22 | 32% | |
| Mar 22 | 30% | |
| Apr 22 | 29% | |
| May 22 | 27% | |
| Jun 22 | 27% | |
| Jul 22 | 26% | |
| Aug 22 | 25% | 24% |
| Sep 22 | 25% | 23% |
| Oct 22 | 24% | 22% |
| Nov 22 | 24% | 20% |
| Dec 22 | 24% | 19% |
| Jan 23 | 24% | 24% |
| Feb 23 | 23% | 24% |
| Mar 23 | – | 24% |
| Apr 23 | – | 24% |
| May 23 | – | 24% |
4. Citizenship Backlog Projections
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 46% | |
| Feb 22 | 45% | |
| Mar 22 | 42% | |
| Apr 22 | 40% | |
| May 22 | 39% | |
| Jun 22 | 37% | |
| Jul 22 | 35% | |
| Aug 22 | 30% | 30% |
| Sep 22 | 30% | 30% |
| Oct 22 | 28% | 28% |
| Nov 22 | 29% | 27% |
| Dec 22 | 28% | 26% |
| Jan 23 | 27% | 26% |
| Feb 23 | 26% | 25% |
| Mar 23 | – | 24% |
| Apr 23 | – | 24% |
| May 23 | – | 24% |
5. Study Permit Applications’ Backlog Projections
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 42% | |
| Feb 22 | 34% | |
| Mar 22 | 27% | |
| Apr 22 | 32% | |
| May 22 | 31% | |
| Jun 22 | 30% | |
| Jul 22 | 31% | |
| Aug 22 | 38% | 39% |
| Sep 22 | 31% | 42% |
| Oct 22 | 26% | 33% |
| Nov 22 | 28% | 31% |
| Dec 22 | 32% | 33% |
| Jan 23 | 35% | 36% |
| Feb 23 | 29% | 34% |
| Mar 23 | – | 25% |
| Apr 23 | – | 22% |
| May 23 | – | 15% |
6. Work Permit Applications’ Backlog Projections
**According to IRCC, about 73% of work visa applications originate from the Canada-Ukraine emergency travel permission.
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 48% | |
| Feb 22 | 51% | |
| Mar 22 | 29% | |
| Apr 22 | 23% | |
| May 22 | 26% | |
| Jun 22 | 28% | |
| Jul 22 | 28% | |
| Aug 22 | 34% | 29% |
| Sep 22 | 27% | 35% |
| Oct 22 | 23% | 49% |
| Nov 22 | 24% | 55% |
| Dec 22 | 25% | 60% |
| Jan 23 | 26% | 26% |
| Feb 23 | 23% | 28% |
| Mar 23 | – | 28% |
| Apr 23 | – | 28% |
| May 23 | – | 28% |
7. Backlog Projections For Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Visitor Visa
**The Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel accounts for 20% of temporary resident visa or visitor visa applications, according to IRCC.
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 70% | |
| Feb 22 | 74% | |
| Mar 22 | 55% | |
| Apr 22 | 55% | |
| May 22 | 56% | |
| Jun 22 | 71% | |
| Jul 22 | 67% | |
| Aug 22 | 71% | 68% |
| Sep 22 | 74% | 71% |
| Oct 22 | 74% | 70% |
| Nov 22 | 70% | 67% |
| Dec 22 | 70% | 77% |
| Jan 23 | 68% | 68% |
| Feb 23 | 64% | 68% |
| Mar 23 | – | 65% |
| Apr 23 | – | 59% |
| May 23 | – | 50% |
Watch live – the new PGWP extension 2023 announcement by IRCC Minister Sean Fraser and read the transcript in your preferred language for better understanding.
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