Canada Immigration Backlog Reduces To 1.09 Million

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

Canada Immigration Applications Under Processing Within Service Standards — Immigration Applications Under Processing Within Service Standards

Canada Immigration Applications Under Processing In Backlog — Immigration Applications Under Processing In Backlog

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%

IRCC Assigned 59,456 Immigration Files To Inactive Officers – New Data

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%

IRCC Minister On Processing Files Using Codes Of Inactive Officers

***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%