IRCC application inventory exceeds 1.5 million as of May 2026
Canada’s immigration department reported a total of 1,517,770 applications awaiting processing as of May 31, 2026. The figure reflects all applications not yet finalized across permanent residence, temporary residence, and citizenship streams.
The updated figures were released on July 21 through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s revised online data portal. The update introduces structural changes to how application inventories are categorized and reported.
The size of the inventory highlights ongoing processing demands across multiple immigration pathways, including economic programs, family reunification applications, and temporary entry streams.
- Total applications in inventory reached 1,517,770 as of May 31, 2026
- Permanent residence applications accounted for 705,315 cases
- Temporary residence inventory stood at 404,070 applications
- Citizenship applications totalled 408,385 pending decisions
- IRCC finalized 1,648,965 applications between January 1 and May 31
Permanent residence applications form largest share
Permanent residence applications represented the largest portion of pending cases, with 705,315 files awaiting final decisions at the end of May. These applications are now grouped under three broad categories: economic, family, and protection.
The revised classification replaces earlier reporting formats and reflects a wider range of immigration pathways. Programs included under this structure span federal economic streams, provincial programs, and humanitarian routes.
Between January 1 and May 31, IRCC processed 198,700 permanent residence applications. This processing activity occurred across multiple streams, including those linked to labour market needs and regional immigration priorities.
Economic immigration category
The economic category accounted for 238,335 applications in the inventory. According to IRCC data, approximately 75% of these cases were actively being processed, while 25% were awaiting available admission spaces under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.
From the beginning of the year to the end of May, 111,000 economic applications were finalized. This category includes programs managed through Express Entry as well as regional pathways such as the Provincial Nominee Program.
Provincial streams, including those aligned with labour market needs in provinces such as Manitoba, remain a key component of this category. Information on provincial selection activity can be tracked through resources such as the Manitoba draws (MPNP) index.
A recent addition to IRCC’s reporting includes applications that have been placed in a queue for future processing due to admissions limits. These cases are counted within the total inventory for the first time.
Family sponsorship applications
Family-based immigration accounted for 159,765 applications awaiting finalization as of May 31. IRCC reported that 60% of these were in active processing, while 40% were pending due to space allocations.
Processing activity in this category resulted in 45,900 finalized cases during the first five months of the year. The family category encompasses sponsorship programs for spouses, partners, dependent children, and parents and grandparents.
This updated reporting format now explicitly includes international adoption within the family category, expanding on earlier versions that focused primarily on sponsorship streams.
Protection category introduced
The protection category represented the largest segment within permanent residence applications, with 307,215 cases pending. IRCC indicated that 54% of these applications were under active review, while 46% were waiting for available admission capacity.
A total of 42,800 protection-related applications were finalized between January and May. This category includes protected persons in Canada, resettled refugees, privately sponsored refugees, and humanitarian and compassionate cases.
This classification did not appear in previous versions of IRCC’s public reporting and reflects a broader breakdown of humanitarian immigration streams.
Temporary residence inventory remains significant
Temporary residence applications totalled 404,070 pending cases at the end of May. This category includes initial applications for work permits, study permits, and visitor visas.
IRCC finalized 1,288,905 applications in these streams between January 1 and May 31, representing the largest volume of processed cases across all immigration categories.
Work permits
There were 35,040 work permit applications awaiting decisions as of May 31. During the same period, 140,775 work permit applications were processed to completion.
Work permits are a central component of Canada’s temporary immigration system, facilitating both employer-specific and open work authorization pathways.
Study permits
The inventory included 31,665 study permit applications awaiting finalization. IRCC reported 74,370 study permit decisions completed between January and May.
Study permits enable international students to pursue education in Canada and are a significant contributor to the temporary resident population each year.
Visitor visas
Visitor visa applications represented the largest share of temporary residence inventory, with 337,365 cases pending. From January through May, IRCC finalized 1,073,755 visitor visa applications.
This category includes applications for temporary entry to Canada for tourism, family visits, and short-term stays.
Citizenship applications approach 410,000
Citizenship-related applications reached 408,385 pending cases as of May 31. This includes both applications for citizenship grants and requests for proof of citizenship.
IRCC’s updated reporting now incorporates citizenship certificate applications, which were not previously included in published totals.
Citizenship grants
The majority of pending citizenship cases were grant applications, totalling 326,365. Between January 1 and May 31, 131,420 individuals were granted Canadian citizenship.
Citizenship grants represent the final stage of the immigration process for many permanent residents.
Proof of citizenship
Applications for proof of citizenship certificates accounted for 82,020 pending cases. IRCC issued 28,940 certificates during the first five months of 2026.
These certificates confirm Canadian citizenship status for individuals who may require documentation for legal or administrative purposes.
Changes to IRCC reporting structure
The July 2026 update introduced notable changes to IRCC’s public reporting format. The new system provides more detailed breakdowns across application types and includes additional categories that were not previously disclosed.
At the same time, the updated portal no longer provides data on how many applications are processed within established service standards. Earlier versions of IRCC reporting included this metric across categories.
All reported figures are rounded to the nearest multiple of five, reflecting IRCC’s standard data presentation approach.
Processing trends in early 2026
From January through May, IRCC finalized a total of 1,648,965 applications across all categories. Temporary residence applications accounted for the largest share of completed decisions during this period.
Permanent residence and citizenship applications also saw continued processing activity, although inventories in these categories remain substantial.
The data highlights both ongoing intake levels and the scale of applications currently under review across Canada’s immigration system.
Further updates on application inventories and immigration processing trends are typically released through IRCC’s official reporting channels and related immigration data resources.