IRCC backlog falls to lowest level since July 2025
Canada’s immigration application backlog declined to 922,700 as of April 30, 2026, marking its lowest level since July 2025, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The department reported a total inventory of 2,153,900 applications during the same period, with 1,231,200 processed within established service standards.
The latest figures indicate continued movement in processing across permanent residence, temporary residence, and citizenship streams, with varying trends depending on program category.
- Total backlog dropped to 922,700 in April 2026
- Express Entry backlog reached a record low of 9%
- Study permit backlog declined by five percentage points
- Work permit backlog increased to 37%
- Permanent residence backlog rose to 557,700 applications
- Citizenship backlog held steady at 23%
Application inventory trends show gradual decline
IRCC’s backlog has steadily decreased since the start of 2026, following higher volumes recorded in late 2025. The total number of backlogged applications fell from 990,300 in January to 922,700 by April.
This decline follows a period of growth between July and December 2025, when the backlog exceeded one million applications for several months.
The April figure represents a continuation of month-over-month reductions observed since February, indicating ongoing processing improvements across multiple streams.
Permanent residence backlog increases despite processing gains
As of April 30, IRCC reported 1,038,100 permanent residence applications in its inventory, an increase of 18,900 compared to March.
Of these applications, 480,400 were processed within service standards, representing 46% of the total, while 557,700 remained in backlog.
Permanent residence categories include Express Entry, enhanced provincial nominations, and family sponsorship applications outside Quebec.
The Express Entry system recorded its lowest backlog level to date at 9%, a significant decrease from 32% five months earlier.
Additional information on draw activity can be found through the Express Entry draws tracker, which compiles recent invitation rounds and program updates.
Enhanced Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications also showed improvement, with backlog levels declining to 37% in April from 38% in March.
This marked the fifth consecutive monthly decrease in the backlog for enhanced nominations, reaching its lowest level since February 2025.
Family sponsorship applications moved in the opposite direction, rising slightly to 23% from 22% in March.
This represents the highest backlog level in this category since April 2023, although it remained below IRCC’s projected threshold.
Between January 1 and April 30, IRCC finalized 155,500 permanent residence applications and admitted 112,900 new permanent residents.
Temporary residence applications show mixed changes
Temporary residence applications totaled 842,000 at the end of April, down by 23,000 from the previous month.
Of these, 548,900 applications, or 64%, were processed within service standards, leaving 293,100 categorized as backlog.
This category includes study permits, work permits, and visitor visas, each of which recorded different trends during the reporting period.
Work permit backlog increases
The backlog for work permit applications rose to 37% in April, compared to 34% in March.
This increase exceeded IRCC’s projected backlog level of 29% for the month.
From the beginning of 2026 through April 30, the department processed 618,500 work permit applications, including extensions.
Study permit backlog declines
Study permit applications saw a reduction in backlog, decreasing from 40% in March to 35% at the end of April.
Despite the decline, the backlog remained above the projected 27% level.
During the first four months of 2026, IRCC finalized 145,000 study permit applications.
Visitor visa backlog edges down
The backlog for visitor visa applications decreased slightly to 45%, compared to 46% in the previous month.
This category continues to represent one of the largest shares of backlogged temporary residence applications.
Citizenship applications remain stable
IRCC reported 273,800 citizenship grant applications in its inventory as of April, an increase of 3,700 from March.
Of these, 211,900 applications, or 77%, were processed within service standards, leaving 61,900 in the backlog.
The citizenship backlog rate remained unchanged at 23% for the third consecutive month, staying within the department’s projected range.
In April alone, 24,200 individuals were granted Canadian citizenship.
Understanding IRCC service standards
IRCC uses service standards to measure how quickly applications are processed under normal conditions.
These benchmarks are designed so that approximately 80% of applications in each category are finalized within a specified timeframe.
Applications exceeding these timelines are classified as part of the backlog, often due to additional screening requirements, incomplete documentation, or case complexity.
For example, Express Entry applications are generally expected to be processed within six months, while family sponsorship cases typically have a 12-month standard.
Context across provincial and federal programs
The backlog data spans both federal and provincial immigration pathways, including streams linked to provincial nomination systems.
Programs such as the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program are integrated into federal processing once nominations are issued, contributing to the overall inventory levels.
Recent provincial activity, including draws tracked through the Manitoba draws (MPNP) index, forms part of the broader system that feeds into IRCC’s application volumes.
Fluctuations in provincial nominations and federal selection rounds can influence inventory levels over time, alongside intake targets and processing capacity.
Recent movement reflects ongoing processing adjustments
The April 2026 figures highlight differing trends across immigration categories, with some backlogs shrinking while others expand.
Express Entry reached a new low backlog level, while work permits experienced an increase and family sponsorship saw modest growth.
The overall reduction in backlogged applications since early 2026 reflects continued adjustments in processing and inventory management.
IRCC’s total backlog of 922,700 in April remains below levels recorded throughout much of late 2025, when volumes exceeded one million applications.
Further updates on application inventories and program activity are typically released monthly, reflecting changes across permanent residence, temporary residence, and citizenship streams.