Skip to content
New IRCC Backlog data 2023

IRCC backlog drops to 910,400 despite increase in new applications

Last Updated On 18 March 2023, 11:48 AM EDT (Toronto Time)


IRCC backlog drops by around 64,000 as per new official data updated by the Canadian immigration department on March 17.

IRCC backlog now stands at 910,400 which is an all-time low number since the processing woes started in pandemic.

This reduction in IRCC backlog has been registered along all the business lines including Citizenship(-7.2%), Permanent residency(-3.78%), and temporary residency(-8.28%).

Furthermore, there has been increase of 82,300 in new immigration applications as of February 28, 2023.

Canada immigration department was processing 1,052,200 files within IRCC service standards in the end of last month.

In total, IRCC was processing 1,962,600 immigration/visa applications as of February 28.

DateBacklogTotal Applications
Under Processing
February 28, 2023910,4001,962,600
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

It is important to note that IRCC backlog data and service standard data are different as explained below.

For example, if the typical processing period for spousal sponsorship is 12 months, an application that is being processed within 12 months is “NOT” a backlog. Instead, it will be treated as regular processing.

But, if it surpasses the 12-month service threshold, then only it should be regarded a backlog.

The IRCC aims to process 80% of applications within these service standards. Learn more about IRCC service standards.

Application TypeOverall Processing InventoryBacklogWithin Service Standards
Citizenship299,00077,000222,000
Permanent Residence622,600335,400287,200
Temporary Residence1,041,000498,000543,000
Total1,962,600910,4001052,200

IRCC Backlog Projections 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%20%
Mar 2320%
Apr 2320%
May 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 2332%39%
Mar 2332%
Apr 2330%
May 2328%

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 2323%24%
Mar 2324%
Apr 2324%
May 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 2326%25%
Mar 2324%
Apr 2324%
May 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 2329%34%
Mar 2325%
Apr 2322%
May 2315%

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 2323%28%
Mar 2328%
Apr 2328%
May 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 2364%68%
Mar 2365%
Apr 2359%
May 2350%

Loading…

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

New IRCC Backlog data 2023