Last Updated On 24 January 2023, 12:20 PM EST (Toronto Time)
The Canada immigration backlog has decreased from 1.2 million on October 31, 2022 to 1.09 million as of November 30, 2022. IRCC has updated this new data today (December 14, 2022).
Furthermore, 1.02 million applications are still being processed within IRCC service standards. This number has slightly reduced from 1.04 million since October 31st data. So, in all, 2.1 million applications are now being processed at IRCC.
On August 24, 2022, the IRCC minister confirmed that backlog data is different from service standard data. For example, if spousal sponsorship specifies a processing period of 12 months, an application that is being processed within 12 months is “NOT” a backlog. Rather, it will be classified as standard processing.
However, if it surpasses the 12-month service requirement, it is referred to as a backlog. It should be noted that IRCC’s goal is to complete 80% of applications within service standards. Click here to view the IRCC’s service standards by category.
| Application Type | Overall Processing Inventory | Backlog | Within Service Standards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship | 318,000 | 89,000 | 229,000 |
| Permanent Residence | 609,400 | 337,200 | 272,200 |
| Temporary Residence | 1,184,000 | 660,000 | 524,000 |
| Total | 2,111,400 | 1,086,200 | 1,025,200 |
IRCC Backlog latest data – November 30
Below are the category-wise Canada Immigration backlog projections by IRCC
1. Federal High Skilled Backlog
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 89% | |
| Feb 22 | 92% | |
| Mar 22 | 98% | |
| Apr 22 | 99% | |
| May 22 | 100% | |
| Jun 22 | 100% | |
| Jul 22 | 99% | |
| Aug 22 | 90% | 86% |
| Sep 22 | 68% | 72% |
| Oct 22 | 45% | 59% |
| Nov 22 | 31% | 46% |
| Dec 22 | – | 20% |
2. Provincial Nominee Program (Express Entry) Backlog
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 56% | |
| Feb 22 | 55% | |
| Mar 22 | 54% | |
| Apr 22 | 51% | |
| May 22 | 47% | |
| Jun 22 | 45% | |
| Jul 22 | 43% | |
| Aug 22 | 42% | 39% |
| Sep 22 | 40% | 35% |
| Oct 22 | 42% | 31% |
| Nov 22 | 42% | 28% |
| Dec 22 | – | 20% |
3. Spouses, Partners and children applications Backlog
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 34% | |
| Feb 22 | 32% | |
| Mar 22 | 30% | |
| Apr 22 | 29% | |
| May 22 | 27% | |
| Jun 22 | 27% | |
| Jul 22 | 26% | |
| Aug 22 | 25% | 24% |
| Sep 22 | 25% | 23% |
| Oct 22 | 24% | 22% |
| Nov 22 | 24% | 20% |
| Dec 22 | – | 19% |
4. Citizenship Backlog
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 46% | |
| Feb 22 | 45% | |
| Mar 22 | 42% | |
| Apr 22 | 40% | |
| May 22 | 39% | |
| Jun 22 | 37% | |
| Jul 22 | 34% | |
| Aug 22 | 31% | 31% |
| Sep 22 | 31% | 30% |
| Oct 22 | 28% | 29% |
| Nov 22 | 27% | 27% |
| Dec 22 | – | 25% |
5. Study Permits Backlog
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 42% | |
| Feb 22 | 34% | |
| Mar 22 | 27% | |
| Apr 22 | 32% | |
| May 22 | 31% | |
| Jun 22 | 30% | |
| Jul 22 | 31% | |
| Aug 22 | 38% | 39% |
| Sep 22 | 31% | 42% |
| Oct 22 | 26% | 33% |
| Nov 22 | 27% | 31% |
| Dec 22 | – | 33% |
| Jan 23 | – | 36% |
| Feb 23 | – | 33% |
| Mar 23 | – | 23% |
6. Work Permits Backlog
**As per IRCC, approximately 71% of work permits applications are from the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel.
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 48% | |
| Feb 22 | 51% | |
| Mar 22 | 29% | |
| Apr 22 | 23% | |
| May 22 | 26% | |
| Jun 22 | 28% | |
| Jul 22 | 28% | |
| Aug 22 | 34% | 29% |
| Sep 22 | 27% | 35% |
| Oct 22 | 23% | 49% |
| Nov 22 | 28% | 55% |
| Dec 22 | – | 60% |
| Jan 23 | – | 58% |
| Feb 23 | – | 47% |
| Mar 23 | – | 30% |
7. Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Visitor Visa Backlog
**As per IRCC, approximately 17% of temporary resident visa or visitor visa applications are from the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel.
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 70% | |
| Feb 22 | 74% | |
| Mar 22 | 55% | |
| Apr 22 | 55% | |
| May 22 | 56% | |
| Jun 22 | 71% | |
| Jul 22 | 67% | |
| Aug 22 | 71% | 68% |
| Sep 22 | 74% | 71% |
| Oct 22 | 74% | 70% |
| Nov 22 | 70% | 67% |
| Dec 22 | – | 66% |
| Jan 23 | – | 66% |
| Feb 23 | – | 62% |
| Mar 23 | – | 58% |
Source: IRCC official website
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