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IRCC Minister - Canada Immigration backlog 2023

Canada Immigration Backlog Increases By 6% – New IRCC Data

Last Updated On 31 March 2023, 9:42 AM EDT (Toronto Time)


Canada immigration backlog ends 4-month reduction streak as per latest IRCC data updated yesterday. IRCC backlog stood at 974,600.

This is a 6% increase in backlog numbers as compared to the official IRCC data of December 2022.

Immigration backlog was continuously reducing since September 2022. It came down from 1,322,500 to 918,300 as of December 31, 2022.

Increase is backlog was only recorded among temporary residence applications (+15%), but permanent residence (-3.5%) and citizenship applications (-2.35%) actually saw a drop in backlog.

Furthermore, 969,900 applications were still being processed within the IRCC service standards. This is a drop from 1.055 million applications in December.

Overall, IRCC was processing total of 1,944,500 applications according to data noted on January 31.

DateBacklogTotal Applications
Under Processing
January 31, 2023974,6001,944,500
December 31, 2022918,3001,973,800
November 30, 20221,086,2002,111,400
October 31, 20221,202,7902,239,700
September 30, 20221,322,5002,610,700

IRCC minister has previously mentioned that backlog data and service standard data should be seen differently.

For example, if spousal sponsorship has a 12-month standard processing period, an application that is handled within 12 months is “NOT” a backlog. It will instead be regarded as normal processing.

But, if it exceeds the 12-month service standard, then only it should be considered a backlog.

IRCC aims to finish 80% of applications within these service standards. Click here to know more about IRCC service standards.

Application TypeOverall Processing InventoryBacklogWithin Service Standards
Citizenship303,00083,000220,000
Permanent Residence617,500348,600268,900
Temporary Residence1,024,000543,000481,000
Total1,944,500974,600969,900

IRCC Projections On Canada Immigration Backlog For 2023

1. Backlog Projections For Federal High Skilled

MonthBacklog (Actual)Backlog (Projected)
Jan 2289%
Feb 2292%
Mar 2298%
Apr 2299%
May 22100%
Jun 22100%
Jul 2299%
Aug 2290%86%
Sep 2268%72%
Oct 2245%59%
Nov 2231%46%
Dec 2222%20%
Jan 2320%20%
Feb 2320%
Mar 2320%

2. Backlog Projections For Express Entry Provincial Nominee Program

MonthBacklog (Actual)Backlog (Projected)
Jan 2256%
Feb 2255%
Mar 2254%
Apr 2251%
May 2247%
Jun 2245%
Jul 2243%
Aug 2242%39%
Sep 2240%35%
Oct 2242%31%
Nov 2242%28%
Dec 2241%20%
Jan 2338%40%
Feb 2339%
Mar 2338%

3. Backlog Projections for Spouses, Partners and children applications

MonthBacklog (Actual)Backlog (Projected)
Jan 2234%
Feb 2232%
Mar 2230%
Apr 2229%
May 2227%
Jun 2227%
Jul 2226%
Aug 2225%24%
Sep 2225%23%
Oct 2224%22%
Nov 2224%20%
Dec 2224%19%
Jan 2324%24%
Feb 2324%
Mar 2324%

4. Citizenship Backlog Projections

MonthBacklog (Actual)Backlog (Projected)
Jan 2246%
Feb 2245%
Mar 2242%
Apr 2240%
May 2239%
Jun 2237%
Jul 2235%
Aug 2230%30%
Sep 2230%30%
Oct 2228%28%
Nov 2229%27%
Dec 2228%26%
Jan 2327%26%
Feb 2325%
Mar 2324%

5. Study Permit Applications’ Backlog Projections

MonthBacklog (Actual)Backlog (Projected)
Jan 2242%
Feb 2234%
Mar 2227%
Apr 2232%
May 2231%
Jun 2230%
Jul 2231%
Aug 2238%39%
Sep 2231%42%
Oct 2226%33%
Nov 2228%31%
Dec 2232%33%
Jan 2335%36%
Feb 2333%
Mar 2323%

6. Work Permit Applications’ Backlog Projections

**According to IRCC, about 73% of work visa applications originate from the Canada-Ukraine emergency travel permission.

MonthBacklog (Actual)Backlog (Projected)
Jan 2248%
Feb 2251%
Mar 2229%
Apr 2223%
May 2226%
Jun 2228%
Jul 2228%
Aug 2234%29%
Sep 2227%35%
Oct 2223%49%
Nov 2224%55%
Dec 2225%60%
Jan 2326%26%
Feb 2328%
Mar 2328%

7. Backlog Projections For Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Visitor Visa

**The Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel accounts for 20% of temporary resident visa or visitor visa applications, according to IRCC.

MonthBacklog (Actual)Backlog (Projected)
Jan 2270%
Feb 2274%
Mar 2255%
Apr 2255%
May 2256%
Jun 2271%
Jul 2267%
Aug 2271%68%
Sep 2274%71%
Oct 2274%70%
Nov 2270%67%
Dec 2270%77%
Jan 2368%68%
Feb 2368%
Mar 2365%

New Canada Workers Benefit Payment 2023 Is Now Rolling Out


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