Canada’s Immigration Backlog Crosses One Million (Again), With Express Entry Feeling the Strain

That figure doesn’t include every file in the system, only applications that have already taken longer than IRCC’s target processing timelines. In total, the department was managing 2,182,200 applications across all immigration programs. 

It’s also worth noting that IRCC’s backlog was already above one million applications through much of late 2024. While the backlog declined steadily from September 2024 through early 2025, dropping below one million by December 2024, the more recent increase in 2025 marks a reversal of that earlier progress. 

IRCC published these figures on December 16, 2025. The milestone itself isn’t entirely surprising, as demand remains high, and processing hasn’t caught up. Still, it helps explain the longer and less predictable wait times many applicants are experiencing across permanent residence, temporary residence, and citizenship.

The Numbers at a Glance 

• IRCC was managing 2,182,200 applications across all immigration programs at the end of October 2025. That’s the full inventory, everything in progress.

• Of those, 1,175,500 applications were still within IRCC’s service standards, meaning they were technically on time.

• The remaining 1,006,700 applications were officially backlogged, having already passed IRCC’s expected processing timelines.

• Compared to September, the backlog grew by 1%. Compared to January, it was up by nearly 115,000 applications.

• Earlier in 2025, backlog levels were falling month after month. That trend reversed in May, and while the pace of growth has slowed recently, the backlog has continued to rise. 

How IRCC Defines a Backlog 

IRCC has service standards – target timelines, not guarantees. 

For example: 

• Express Entry: 6 months

• Family sponsorship: 12 months 

Their goal is to finalize 80% of applications within those timelines. The other 20%? Those tend to be complex files, such as those with missing documents, advanced security checks, or medical follow-ups. 

When more people apply than there are spots or officers available, even that 80% target becomes hard to hit, and processing times stretch. IRCC openly says its projections don’t account for sudden surges, policy shifts, or global curveballs. 

Express Entry Backlogs Are Rising

Here’s the part many skilled workers will want to pay attention to. By October 31, 27% of Express Entry applications were backlogged, well above IRCC’s target of 20%. Just one month earlier, that number was 21%. That’s a noticeable jump in a short amount of time, and it means more Express Entry applicants are waiting longer than expected. 

Express Entry–linked Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications are also under pressure. By the end of October, 51% of these applications were backlogged, the highest level since early 2022.  

Family sponsorship applications look more stable by comparison, with 20% backlogged, which is exactly what the government expected. 

Even with these challenges, IRCC is still processing a large number of permanent residence applications. From January to October, the department made 377,100 decisions and welcomed 343,400 new permanent residents. That’s a lot of people but right now, more applications are coming in than IRCC can process. 

Temporary Residence Trends 

This is where the trends start to move in a different direction. For the first time since July 2025, the study permit backlog actually dropped, from 42% to 41%. It’s still well above IRCC’s projected 30%, but a move in the right direction.  

Work permits moved in the opposite direction, with the backlog rising from 48% to 50%, well above the department’s 39% target. 

Overall, IRCC reduced its temporary residence inventory slightly, from 1,028,500 to 999,100 applications. 

And in terms of output, the department finalized: 

• 1,111,000 work permit application

• 501,800 study permit applications 

And when we zoom in on work permits, the wait is getting harder to ignore. As of December 17, 2025, IRCC estimates that work permit applications submitted from inside Canada, including extensions, are taking about 213 days to process. That’s roughly seven months, well beyond what many applicants expect when they apply.   

For students already in Canada, the picture looks a bit brighter. IRCC currently lists a seven-week processing time for in-Canada study permit applications, based on its latest update from December 17, 2025. Since these timelines are refreshed weekly, they can shift, but for now, study permits are moving faster than many other temporary applications. 

That said, timelines look very different outside Canada. For applicants applying from abroad, study permit processing times can range from as little as one week to around eight weeks. The variation in processing time depends largely on the country of residence. Location matters a lot and it’s one of the biggest reasons two students applying at the same time (from different countries) can have very different experiences. 

Citizenship Backlogs Continue to Grow 

Citizenship doesn’t get as many headlines as other immigration programs, but the backlog is growing here, too. As of October 31, IRCC had 254,300 citizenship grant applications in its system. Of those, 22% were backlogged, marking the fourth month in a row that the backlog increased. 

Between April and October, 156,500 people became Canadian citizens. Citizenship ceremonies continued during this time, though many applicants had to wait longer than expected. 

For citizenship grant applications submitted in November 2025, IRCC estimates a processing time of about 13 months. As of December 9, 2025, there were around 297,000 citizenship applications waiting for a decision. This means new applicants should plan to wait just over one year from the time they apply. 

What this means if you’re applying (or waiting) 

This isn’t a reason to panic, but it is a reason to be realistic.  

If you’re in Express Entry, expect more variability. Some files will still move faster than others, and two people with similar profiles can have very different timelines.  

For study and work permit applicants, completing paperwork matters. Clear, well-prepared files usually move faster, while incomplete ones can slow things down. 

Canada’s immigration system is still moving. Millions of decisions are being made. Hundreds of thousands of newcomers are arriving and settling in. But the backlog crossing one million shows that the system is under pressure. For applicants, the best approach right now is to stay informed and prepared. For anyone applying now, the message is pretty clear. Applications are being processed, but waits are longer and less predictable, so planning ahead and setting realistic expectations really matters. 

With processing times extending and backlogs growing, having a clear plan matters. Join the Moving2Canada community for practical updates and clear explanations to help you understand your options before you apply.