Last Updated On 29 February 2024, 10:42 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Canada continues to process a high number of citizenship, immigration, and temporary visa applications as per the most recent IRCC backlog data as of January 31, 2024.
IRCC is still processing nearly 2.2 million applications, with a precise number of 2,188,400 owing to the high number of temporary residency applications in inventory.
Also, overall processing inventory has improved slightly only due to a reduction in the number of temporary residency applications as compared to the backlog data as of December 31, 2023.
The term backlog refers to any application for citizenship, immigration, or a temporary visa that takes longer than the Canadian immigration department’s typical service standards.
Tap here to see IRCC service standards sorted by application category.
The backlog for temporary visa applications has reduced by 5.79% due to recent measures announced by the immigration minister on capping international students as well as the requirement of a provincial acceptance letter (PAL) for study permits.
We are expecting to see the backlog reduce further since none of the provinces has so far introduced the PAL procedure and most of the study permit applicants are unable to submit their applications as of today.
Canada immigration backlog Month-on-month comparison
| Application Type | Backlog As of Jan 31 | Backlog As of Dec 31 | Difference Since Dec 31 | Percentage Change Since Dec 31 |
| Citizenship | 49,800 | 49,800 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Permanent Residence | 309,300 | 308,900 | 400 | 0.13% |
| Temporary Residence | 570,900 | 590,800 | -19,900 | -3.37% |
| Total | 930,000 | 949,500 | -19,500 | -2.05% |
The number of citizenship applications under backlog was unchanged despite an increase in processing inventory within service standards.
Because staff have a lesser burden of processing study permit applications, the overall backlog has improved, despite the fact that new citizenship and permanent residency applications increased by 2.5% and 5.11%, respectively.
| Application Type | Within Service Standards, January 31 | Within Service Standards, December 31 | Percentage Change Since December 31 |
| Citizenship | 217,600 | 212,300 | 2.50% |
| Permanent Residence | 413,200 | 393,100 | 5.11% |
| Temporary Residence | 627,600 | 666,200 | -5.79% |
| Total | 1,258,400 | 1,271,600 | -1.04% |
Last 12 Months IRCC Backlog Updates
| Backlog Update Date | Applications In Backlog | Total Applications Under Processing | Backlog Net Age Change month-on-month |
| January 31, 2024 | 930,000 | 2,188,400 | -2.05% |
| December 31, 2023 | 949,500 | 2,221,100 | +6.65% |
| November 30, 2023 | 890,300 | 2,092,700 | -4.93% |
| October 31, 2023 | 936,500 | 2,166,800 | 0.86% |
| September 30, 2023 | 928,500 | 2,194,900 | 9.9% |
| August 31, 2023 | 844,700 | 2,198,700 | 5.2% |
| July 31, 2023 | 802,600 | 2,274,600 | 0.2% |
| June 30, 2023 | 801,000 | 2,264,000 | -2.3% |
| May 31, 2023 | 820,000 | 2,248,000 | 1.4% |
| April 30, 2023 | 809,000 | 2,006,000 | -9.7% |
| March 31, 2023 | 896,300 | 2,017,700 | -1.5% |
| February 28, 2023 | 910,400 | 1,962,600 | -6.6% |
| January 31, 2023 | 974,600 | 1,944,500 | 6.1% |
The Canadian government was chastised for accepting a record number of permanent and temporary residents during the housing crisis.
Recently, on January 22, the Immigration Minister put a limit on the number of overseas students allowed annually. Click here to read the entire announcement.
Only 9 days after the announcement seems to show improvement in overall processing, so it will be interesting to see the backlog and processing numbers at the end of February 2024.
The data will be revealed around March 20 and it will be interesting to see the affect on the number of temporary residency applications under processing.
Stay tuned for the latest updates from INC News.
What are the causes of the Canadian immigration backlog despite COVID being over?
Despite the accumulation of Canadian immigration applications during COVID, below are the reasons that are still contributing to the backlog:
Policy Changes and Processing Delays: Shifting immigration policies, along with bureaucratic inefficiencies, can cause processing delays and backlog formation.
Increased Demand: In recent years, Canada’s appeal as an immigration destination has grown, resulting in an increase in application submissions and, as a result, a backlog.
Resource Constraints: Limited resources, including staffing and facilities, limit immigration authorities’ ability to process applications efficiently.
Complexity of the System: The complexities of Canada’s immigration system, with its various streams and eligibility requirements, can result in lengthy processing periods and administrative bottlenecks.
What is the latest IRCC backlog data for 2024?
Recent data as of January 31, 2024, reveals the staggering extent of Canada’s immigration backlog.
The immigration backlog stood at 930,000 applications, spanning diverse categories and nationalities, at the end of the first month of 2024.
Such a substantial immigration backlog not only hampers the timely processing of applications but also exacerbates uncertainty and frustration among prospective immigrants.
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