Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made significant strides in reducing the immigration application backlog, leading to faster visa processing times. As of March 2025, the backlog stands at 821,200 applications, a 7.95% decrease from 892,100 in January, marking the third consecutive month with figures below one million.
Breakdown of Application Processing:
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Permanent Residency Applications: Out of 842,600 applications, 57% were processed within the standard service times. However, delays persist in programs like Express Entry, with a 25% backlog, and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which saw an increase to 36%. Family sponsorship backlogs showed a slight improvement, decreasing from 15% to 14%.
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Temporary Resident Applications: Visitor visas face the most significant delays, with a 65% backlog, surpassing IRCC's target of 50%. Study permits have a 45% backlog, while work permits are at 34%, the lowest since July 2023.
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Citizenship Applications: These are the least affected, with 82% processed within the standard timelines.
Measures Implemented to Address Backlogs:
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Automation and Digital Processing: Over 80% of visitor visa applications now utilize automated systems, expediting processing times.
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Study Permit Caps: A 35% reduction in new international student permits for 2024 has been introduced to manage workloads effectively.
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Stable Immigration Targets: The Immigration Levels Plan 2025–27 maintains targets of 485,000 permanent residents in 2025 and 500,000 annually in 2026 and 2027, ensuring consistent processing and resource allocation.
These initiatives aim to enhance processing efficiency and reduce uncertainty for applicants. While progress is evident, challenges remain, particularly concerning visitor visas and study permits, highlighting the importance of continued improvements within the IRCC.
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