Canada’s immigration backlog now exceeds 2 million persons

Shelby Thevenot, Kareem El-Assal
Published: April 30, 2022

Immigration Canada's processing inventory now stands at more than 2 million people across all lines of business.

The temporary and permanent residence backlog has increased. Meanwhile, the citizenship backlog went down to about 400,000 persons in April, compared to more than 453,000 in March.

The backlog has progressed as follows since last summer:

CIC News requested new inventory data on April 28. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) responded on the same day with April 11 figures. CIC News has put in a follow-up request for the most recent data. CIC News is also reporting the data the same way it was received from IRCC.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

CUAET driving the increase

Most of the gains between March and April were seen in the temporary residence inventory. As of April 11, there are more than 1.1 million temporary residence applicants, such as people applying for work and study permits, waiting on processing. On March 17, there were around 870,000 people.

According to an IRCC media spokesperson, the inventory for temporary resident visas and work permits has increased significantly recently with the introduction of the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET). This program allows IRCC to bring people to Canada through existing temporary resident visa processes, networks and infrastructure. It is a temporary residency pathway to Canada and not a refugee program. As of April 29, IRCC has received 180,903 CUAET applications.

Application typePersons as of April 11
Study Permits122,145
Study Permit Extensions34,242
Temporary Resident Visas558,498
Visitor Records73,450
Work Permits172,796
Work Permit Extensions141,244
Total1,102,375

Slight increase among permanent residence applicants but Express Entry is improving amid return to all-program draws in July

On April 11, the permanent residence inventory stood at about 530,000 people, up from nearly 519,000 in March. Slight increases were experienced across each permanent residence category.

Immigration CategoryPersons as of April 11Persons as of March 15
Economic236,443230,767
Family Class107,094103,112
Humanitarian & Compassionate27,67227,218
Permit Holders Class2018
Protected Persons158,402157,552
Total529,631518,667

There has been a reduction in the Express Entry backlog. In April, there were more than 45,000 Express Entry applicants waiting on decisions, down from about 52,000 in March.

The reduction in Express Entry files was the impetus that led Immigration Minister Sean Fraser to announce that all-program draws will resume in July, and processing times will return to six months for most new applicants. Rounds of invitation have been temporarily paused for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) since December 2020. Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates have not seen a draw since September 2021. Express Entry is the main way IRCC welcomes skilled immigrants.

Immigration ProgramPersons as of April 11Persons as of March 15
Canadian Experience Class8,36310,338
Federal Skilled Worker Program36,28141,336
Federal Skilled Trades537589
Total45,18152,263

Conclusion

IRCC continues to grapple with a large inventory exacerbated by the pandemic. IRCC has been allocated an additional $85 million to reduce wait times for newcomers. This funding builds on the work that IRCC has already done to reduce wait times, such as hiring new processing staff, digitizing applications, and reallocating work among IRCC offices around the world. Despite these efforts, many people continue to experience wait times far in excess of IRCC's standards. IRCC announced in January its intention to bring service standards back to normal for a variety of lines of business by the end of this year.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

© CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.

Share this article
Share your voice
Did you find this article helpful?
Thank you for your feedback.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Did you find this article helpful?
Please provide a response
Thank you for your helpful feedback
Please contact us if you would like to share additional feedback, have a question, or would like Canadian immigration assistance.
  • Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
  • Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com
Related articles
10 mistakes to avoid as a newcomer to Canada
Man and woman walking and laughing, enjoying a day out in the city on a sunny autumn day
Clearing up three common misconceptions about immigrating to Canada
Debunking common myths about immigrating to Canada.
IRCC issues ITAs to Express Entry candidates in second draw this week
IRCC has held another round of invitations for Express Entry candidates
Deadline to apply for PGWP moves for students of college programs with public-private curriculum licensing agreement
Some international graduates must apply for their PGWP before May 15 to remain eligible.
Top Stories
Can I travel outside of Canada as a temporary resident?
Ontario announces distribution of allocation for international study permits in 2024
Canada to introduce a Renters Bill of Rights
Join our free newsletter. Get Canada's top immigration stories delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe
More in Canada
Can I travel outside of Canada as a temporary resident?
male traveler taking selfie portrait on the hill with mount assiniboine in national park at BC, Canada
Canada to introduce a Renters Bill of Rights
Clearing up three common misconceptions about immigrating to Canada
Debunking common myths about immigrating to Canada.
IRCC issues ITAs to Express Entry candidates in second draw this week
IRCC has held another round of invitations for Express Entry candidates
Link copied to clipboard