Canada's Immigration System Faces Mounting Backlogs and Processing Delays

Canada's immigration system is grappling with significant backlogs, impacting a vast number of permanent residency, temporary residency, and citizenship applications. This surge in delayed applications is attributed to a combination of factors, including increased application volumes and recent government decisions regarding staffing within Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Key Takeaways

• Nearly 959,000 permanent residency applications are currently backlogged as of August 31, 2025.

• The overall proportion of delayed applications across all streams has risen to 43.6 percent.

• Recent job cuts at IRCC are expected to exacerbate existing processing delays.

Permanent Residency Application Delays

Permanent residency (PR) applications are the primary driver of the current backlog. As of August 31, 2025, there were 901,800 PR applications in total, with 470,300 (52.1 percent) backlogged. This represents a significant increase from previous months. Economic streams, such as Express Entry, account for a substantial portion of these delayed applications, with median waits extending to six to eight months. Family sponsorship cases, including spousal applications, are also experiencing lengthy delays, often exceeding 18 months due to verification processes.

Temporary Residency and Citizenship Applications

Temporary residency applications, encompassing study and work permits, are also facing mounting delays. Out of a total inventory of 1,038,100 applications, 437,300 (42.1 percent) are backlogged. Study permits are particularly strained, with around 200,000 delayed as the government implements a cap for 2025. Work permits are also lagging, with approximately 300,000 pending, and processing times can reach six months, especially for applications requiring Labour Market Impact Assessments.

Canada Citizenship applications, while relatively steadier, are not immune to delays. As of August 31, 2025, there were 259,500 citizenship applications, with 51,200 (19.7 percent) backlogged. While adult grants dominate, cases for minors are processed faster. However, Ontario holds a significant portion of pending citizenship files, potentially leading to longer waits in the province.

Impact of Job Cuts on Immigration Services

Further straining the system, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced the elimination of 3,300 jobs as part of the government's "Refocusing Government Spending Initiative." This decision has drawn criticism from unions like the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Canada Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU), who fear it will worsen the existing immigration crisis. These job reductions are part of broader federal budget cuts aimed at reducing spending over the next four years. Unions are advocating for in-house expertise to be prioritized over outsourcing contracts to strengthen the immigration system and mitigate the impact of these staff reductions.

Sources

• Canada immigration backlog at 1 million, permanent residency leads delays | Immigration News, Business Standard.

• Canada immigration to be hit as agency to process applications cuts over 3,000 of own jobs, The Indian Express.