On April 29, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shared a positive update—Canada has reduced its immigration backlog by 41,300 applications. This means processing is speeding up and people may now experience faster responses to their applications.
As of March 31, 2025, there were 1,976,700 total immigration applications in the system. This is a drop from 2,029,400 in February and 2,076,600 in January. These numbers show a clear commitment from Canada to reduce wait times and improve immigration services.
What the Numbers Say About IRCC Progress
The total number of applications in Canada’s system fell by 52,700 in just one month, but more importantly, the backlog (the number of applications that are delayed beyond the normal timeline) dropped by 41,300, from 821,200 to 779,900.
This means IRCC is not only processing more applications but is also catching up on older ones that were delayed.
Here’s how many decisions IRCC made in the first three months of 2025:
- 119,800 decisions on Permanent Residency (PR) applications
- 104,300 new permanent residents welcomed to Canada
- 356,300 people became Canadian citizens between April 2024 and March 2025
- 159,200 study permits and 396,000 work permits finalized in Q1 2025
This shows that Canada is still welcoming high numbers of newcomers, workers, and students while bringing down the backlog.
Category-Wise Breakdown of Backlog – March 2025
IRCC handles three major types of applications: Citizenship, Permanent Residency, and Temporary Residency (like study permits and work visas). Here’s how each of them is performing:
Citizenship Applications
As of March 2025, there were 239,400 citizenship applications, and 43,600 of them were delayed (backlogged). That’s about 18% of all citizenship files. While the total number remained steady compared to February, there was a slight increase in backlog. This suggests that while Canada continues to process a large number of citizenship cases, some files are taking longer than expected.
Permanent Residency Applications
There were 852,700 PR applications in total, and 380,100 of them were backlogged, which is 45% of the total. This category includes applications under Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), and Family Sponsorships. The number of pending applications increased from February, which shows high demand, but IRCC is still moving quickly, with nearly 120,000 decisions made in just three months.
Temporary Residency Applications
This category saw the biggest improvement. The number of total applications dropped from 947,200 in February to 884,600 in March, and the backlog dropped from 414,500 to 356,200. That’s a drop of 58,300 delayed applications, showing that Canada is prioritizing faster processing for students, workers, and visitors.
Comparison: February vs. March 2025
Here’s a helpful comparison of how things changed from January to March 2025:
| Category | March 2025 Total | March Backlog | March Backlog % | February 2025 Total | February Backlog | February Backlog % | January 2025 Total | January Backlog | January Backlog % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship | 239,400 | 43,600 | 18% | 239,600 | 42,700 | 18% | 238,600 | 42,000 | 17.6% |
| Permanent Residency | 852,700 | 380,100 | 45% | 842,600 | 364,000 | 43% | 836,900 | 356,400 | 45% |
| Temporary Residency | 884,600 | 356,200 | 40% | 947,200 | 414,500 | 44% | 998,100 | 493,700 | 49% |
| Total Inventory | 1,976,700 | 779,900 | 39.45% | 2,029,400 | 821,200 | 40% | 2,076,600 | 892,100 | 43% |
Understanding the Terms: What Is Backlog and What Are Service Standards?
Many applicants confuse backlog with regular processing. Here’s the difference:
What Are IRCC Service Standards?
These are the target processing times set by IRCC for different application types. For example:
- Spousal Sponsorship: 12 months
- Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker): 6 months
- Study Permit: 8 weeks
- Citizenship Application: 12 months
If an application is still within this time frame, it is considered on time, not delayed.
What Is a Backlog?
A backlog includes any application that has not been processed within the expected service time. For instance, if a spousal sponsorship takes longer than 12 months, it becomes part of the backlog.
The March 2025 update shows that the backlog is shrinking, which means faster processing for everyone in the future.
1. Why is the backlog still high for Permanent Residency applications?
Permanent Residency is the most popular immigration pathway and includes various programs. The demand is high, but IRCC is working through it, with nearly 120,000 decisions made in just three months.
2. I applied for a visitor visa—will my application be delayed?
The temporary visa category, which includes visitor visas, is improving the fastest. IRCC processed over 396,000 work permits and 159,200 study permits recently, showing that they’re prioritizing this stream.
3. What should I do if my application is in the backlog?
You don’t need to worry unless it has crossed the expected processing time. You can track your application online or contact an RCIC like Ask Kubeir to help assess your case.
4. Is the backlog going to delay new applications in 2025?
In most cases, no. The backlog is shrinking, and IRCC has enough capacity to manage new applications without major delays—especially for temporary and Express Entry programs.
5. Does a higher backlog mean Canada is not accepting immigrants?
Absolutely not. Canada welcomed over 104,000 new permanent residents and processed hundreds of thousands of study and work permits. Immigration remains a key priority for Canada’s economy and society.
Would you like a consultation to explore your Canadian work options? Contact Ask Kubeir today!
📌 If you believe your VISA application should be showcased in the most favorable light when submitting to immigration, feel free to book our services.
📌 To book an appointment with Kubeir – Licensed Canadian Immigration Consultant, click the “Book Appointment”
📲 You may also reach us at this number for all immigration-related services:
- (+𝟭) 𝟰𝟯𝟳-𝟳𝟳𝟳-𝟯𝟳𝟳𝟳 (Canada)
- +971 45 26 4646 (Dubai)
Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. All rights and credits are reserved to the respective owner(s).DM for credits/removal
CREDIT: https://tinyurl.com/5n76vxf2