Last Updated On 11 August 2023, 9:35 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

IRCC is still struggling with backlog, and now they have started providing monthly data on applications within “service standards” as well as applications in “backlog”.

We all know what a backlog is, but it is important to understand what are IRCC service standards are for all the immigration categories.

Canada Immigration has different standards for processing applications category-wise. This is similar to any business’ service standards.

Simple example; A pizza business has a service standard of delivering pizza within 30 minutes of ordering.

Although, they may not be able to achieve it for 100% of the customers, it is their service standard, which they strive to meet for most of the customers.

Similarly, IRCC has different service standards for processing different application types. If an application is not within that service standard, then it is called a backlog.

Any application still within the service standard is not considered as backlog since it is being processed within the service standard.

In context of application processing, IRCC targets processing 80% of applications within service standards.

Category-Wise IRCC Service Standards

However, IRCC was not able to do it because of the pandemic. So, as a result, the number of backlogs grew significantly.

Below are enlisted the IRCC service standards for major application types and IRCC performance in 2021-2022.

Category-Wise IRCC Service Standards

Applications for Citizenship, Family Sponsorship, & PR cards

Application Type	IRCC Service Standard (Target is to process 80% of the applications in this time)	IRCC Performance In 2021-2022 (Percentage of applications processed within service standards)
Citizenship grant applications – Adults and minors	Process within 12 months	9%
Right of citizenship	Invite applicants to citizenship ceremony within 4 months of approving their application	83%
Family Class Priority (Overseas – spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners and dependent children)	Process within 12 months	53%
Initial permanent resident card	Issue an initial permanent resident card within 60 days (from the time the confirmation of permanent residence form is completed at a port of entry or at an IRCC-inland office)	61%

Economic Immigration

Application Type	IRCC Service Standard (Target is to process 80% of the applications in this time)	IRCC Performance In 2021-2022 (Percentage of applications processed within service standards)
Express Entry Canadian Experience Class (CEC)	Process within 180 days	71%
Express Entry Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)	Process within 180 days	0%
Provincial Nominee Program (Paper Applications)	Process within 11 months (doesn’t include the time it takes the province or territory to process)	19%
Provincial Nominee Program (via Express Entry)	Process within 180 days	20%
Quebec-selected Skilled Workers Program	Process applications within 11 months (doesn’t include the time it takes the province to process)	5%
Express Entry Federal Skilled Trades Program	Process within 180 days	0%

Check Out Latest IRCC Processing Times As Of January 18

Temporary residence applications

Application Type	IRCC Service Standard (Target is to process 80% of the applications in this time)	IRCC Performance In 2020-2021 (Percentage of applications processed within service standards)
Work Permit	Process within 60 days	71%
Work Permit extensions inside Canada	Process within 120 days	75%
Work permit applications under International Experience Canada	Process within 56 days or less (target is to process 100% of applications within service standards)	78%
Issuance of opinion to employers on exemption from a Labour Market Impact Assessment or work permit	issue opinions to employers within 14 days	85%
Study permit (outside Canada)	Process within 60 days	64%
Study permit (new permit and extension) inside Canada	Process within 120 days	94%
Visitor visa and electronic travel authorization (eTA)	Process within 14 days	36%
Parents and grandparents Super Visa	Process within 112 days.	72%
Electronic Travel Authorizations (eTA)	Automated approvals within 5 minutes for most applicants	99%

IRCC Considering New Measures To Clear Visitor Visa Backlog

IRCC Client Support Centre

Type	IRCC Service Standard (Target is to process 80% of the applications in this time)	IRCC Performance In 2021-2022 (Percentage of applications processed within service standards)
Email enquiries	Web form inquiries (emails) to be acknowledged within 1 business day and responded to within 3 business days.	answered 30% of web form enquiries within 3 business days
Telephone enquiries	50% of calls seeking an agent reach the wait line, and customers should wait no more than 30 minutes once in the queue.	26% of calls requesting an agent reached the wait queue and 45% of these waited for 30 minutes or less

Source: IRCC Service Standards

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) licensed by CICC (formerly known as ICCRC) with member number R708618. He brings extensive knowledge of immigration law and new changes to rapidly evolving IRCC.