IRCC backlog tops one million applications by end of 2025

IRCC backlog tops one million applications by end of 2025

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reported that its total application backlog reached its highest level of 2025, surpassing one million pending files by December 31. The figure reflects a steady increase since mid-year, despite some reductions in specific categories such as Express Entry.

IRCC data show that of more than two million applications in its system, roughly half were within normal processing timelines, while the remainder were classified as backlogged. The department’s ongoing efforts to align with service standards continue to influence Canada’s immigration processing volumes across permanent, temporary, and citizenship categories.

• Total backlog reached 1,014,700 applications as of December 31, 2025.
• Overall IRCC inventory stood at 2,127,500 applications.
• Express Entry backlog declined to 20%, down from 32% in November.
• Permanent residence backlog increased slightly, while temporary residence decreased.
• Citizenship grant backlog rose marginally to 24%.

Overview of IRCC’s 2025 application volumes

By December 2025, IRCC’s total inventory reached approximately 2.13 million applications, covering permanent residence, temporary residence, and citizenship categories. Of these, 1.11 million were being processed within service standards, while the remaining 1.01 million were awaiting decisions beyond standard timelines.

The backlog increased steadily after April 2025, rising from 760,200 in that month to more than one million by year-end. The largest month-to-month growth occurred during the summer period, reflecting higher intake and processing delays across multiple immigration programs.

Permanent residence applications

IRCC reported 973,800 permanent residence (PR) applications in its system at the end of December 2025, an increase of 32,200 compared with November. This category includes Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and family sponsorship applications. Provinces such as Manitoba continue to rely on the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) to nominate candidates under the federal framework.

Of the total PR applications, 446,300 were within service standards, leaving 527,500 considered backlogged. The share of backlogged Express Entry applications fell to 20%, below IRCC’s internal forecast of 30% for December. Enhanced PNP backlogs also declined from 53% in November to 48%, while family sponsorship backlogs rose slightly to 21%.

During 2025, IRCC finalized 441,000 PR applications and admitted 393,500 new permanent residents across Canada.

Temporary residence applications

Temporary residence volumes decreased month-over-month. As of December 31, 2025, IRCC had 910,900 temporary resident files in process, 31,100 fewer than in November. This total includes work permits, study permits, and visitor visa applications.

About 483,000 of these applications were processed within service standards, while 427,900 remained in backlog. The work permit backlog declined to 46% in December from 49% the previous month, though it remained above the department’s internal projection. Study permit backlogs held steady at 36%, within expected ranges, while visitor visa backlogs dropped slightly to 56%.

Throughout 2025, IRCC processed 605,900 study permit applications and 328,900 work permit cases.

Citizenship grant applications

IRCC’s citizenship inventory stood at 242,800 applications at the end of December, down by 4,300 compared with November. Of these, 183,500 were within standard processing times, and 59,300 were considered backlogged. The proportion of citizenship files exceeding service standards rose from 23% to 24%, slightly above the department’s target for the month.

Service standards and backlog measurement

IRCC defines service standards as target timelines for processing different types of immigration applications. These benchmarks are intended to ensure that most applications are completed within a predictable period. For example, Express Entry files are generally expected to be processed within six months, while family sponsorship cases typically have a 12‑month target.

Applications that remain unresolved beyond these timelines are categorized as part of the backlog. IRCC’s operational goal is to finalize 80% of applications within standard time frames, acknowledging that some cases require additional assessment or documentation.

Processing trends and administrative context

The 2025 year-end figures show a mixed outcome for IRCC’s processing capacity. While the total backlog grew compared to earlier months, certain streams—most notably Express Entry—saw measurable improvements. The shift reflects ongoing adjustments to resource allocation and digital processing systems initiated in previous years to manage high volumes of immigration demand.

Backlog management remains a key operational priority for IRCC, given its influence on national immigration targets and provincial nomination programs. Provinces such as Manitoba, Ontario, and British Columbia rely on consistent federal processing to meet local labour and demographic needs through their nominee programs.

Public relevance

The end‑of‑year data provide an updated view of Canada’s immigration system performance under sustained application pressure. As processing times vary across categories, applicants and stakeholders continue to track IRCC’s monthly updates for transparency on progress toward service standard objectives.

Further information on program-specific inventories and processing trends is expected in upcoming departmental reports and quarterly statistical releases.

Readers can explore related coverage on application volumes, provincial nominee programs, and service standard performance within Canada’s immigration system.