The most recent figures on the immigration backlog were released by the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada on September 23, 2025, and show a worrying increase in the immigration backlog in Canada.
The entire queue in immigration has swelled by 57,150 applications during a single month to a whopping 958,850 on August 31, 2025.
This is in contrast to the 842,800 backlog and 2,189,500 inventory in June 30 which shows continuous difficulties.
The cumulative number of applications dropped to 2,199,400 in August against 2,226,600 in July, but the backlog constitutes 43.6 percent of all pending cases, a warning sign on efficiency.
The economy of Canada is greatly dependent on immigrants who make up almost 23 percent of the population and approximately 29 percent of the labour force.
Delays imply wasted time, and aggravated stakeholders, both in tech startups and in healthcare providers.
The article gives the category-by-category data and delves into the processing trends that will be helpful to applicants, stakeholders, or any other person who can have an interest in Canadian immigration.
A Snapshot of IRCC’s 2025 Immigration Backlog: The Big Picture
The picture of a strained system is designed by the release of IRCC in September 2025.
Between January 1 and August 31, the department was in a storm of applications as it tried to match the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan.
That plan, to be announced in late 2024, targets a permanent resident number of 395,000 in 2025, which is lower than 485,000 in 2024, to reduce housing, healthcare, and infrastructure demands.
The table below describes inventories, backlogs and within-standard applications between citizenship, permanent residency and temporary residency comparing the same between August 31, and July 31, 2025.
Category
Total Inventory (Aug 31)
Total Inventory (July 31)
Backlogged (Aug 31)
Backlogged (July 31)
Within Standards (Aug 31)
Within Standards (July 31)
Citizenship
259,500
254,900
51,200
48,800
208,300
206,100
Permanent Residency
901,800
892,400
470,300
443,500
431,500
448,900
Temporary Residency
1,038,100
1,079,300
437,300
409,400
600,750
669,900
Total
2,199,400
2,226,600
958,850
901,700
1,240,550
1,324,900
The overall inventory decreased by more than 2,226,600 to 2,199,400 applications in processing, and the backlog rose by 901,700 to 958,850 by August 31, 2025.
The 3-month comparison showed an increase of 9,900 (= + 0.5) in the inventory between June and August, which peaked in July (2,226,600) and declined in August.
The backlog increased by 116,051 in 3 months (13.8), and 57,151 in July-August (6.5), and 58,151 in June-July (6.9).
In-standard applications declined by 106,150 (-7.9%) in two months between June and August, to 1,240,550 (56.4) in August.
Each category is then decomposed in the sections below around data-driven trends and implications.
Citizenship Applications Breakdown
The applications to citizenship, which is a gateway to complete integration, experience unstable yet controllable growth.
The total number of citizenship applications inventory was 259,500 on August 31, of which 51,200 were backlogged (19.7) and 208,300 were in standards (80.3).
Between April and August, 103,880 citizenships were issued by the IRCC which is a sign of efficient processing.
The +26,800 monthly backlog explains 46.9% of the +57,150 surge of the system with the 470,300 cases delayed (49.0% of total backlog).
The +54,500 system growth is boosted by 47 percent by the +116,050 backlog that started in June.
Sub-Stream Analysis: Express Entry is an Economic stream (60% of PR) that has around 280,000 backlogged cases, with a median of 6-8 months.
Family sponsorships (e.g., spousal) struck about 90,000 backlogged, at 18 months average, because of checking.
The fact that the backlog has increased at an average rate of +54,500 since June is indicative of capacity overload; only 47.9% of 901,800 applications were timely.
Temporary Residency Applications Breakdown
Short-term residency facilitates short term requirements through study, work and permission of visitors.
The inventory was 1, 038,100 on August 31, 437,300 backlogged (42.1) and 600 750 (57.9) of which was within standards.
In 2018 to date, IRCC completed 594,300 study permits and 931,300 work permits.
context Since June 30: Inventory -2,600 (-0.2%), backlog +57,700 (+15.2%), within-standard -60,350 (-9.1%).
The +27,900 monthly backlog also adds 48.8 to the +57,150 surge in systems with 437,300 cases delayed (45.6% of all backlog).
The backlog of +57,700 since June contributes to 49.7 percent of the increase in +116,050.
The -3.8% reduction in inventory is encouraging, but the +15.2% increase in backlog and -10.3% within-standard fall point to delays, although in the case of study (200,000 backlogged, 4 months median) and work permits (300,000 backlogged, 6 months).
The 600,750 timely cases should be exploited by the applicants by filing off-peak (e.g. after August).
Sub-Stream Details: Study allows face caps (360,000 to 2025), which adds to delays.
There is a delay in work permits especially the ones that are based on LMIA as they have been scrutinized more.
The -41, 200 decrease in inventory is an indicator of decreased inflows whereas the +27, 900 backlog is a sign of seasonal overload.
The 1.5M YTD capacity indicates the allowance of 1.5M per year, but delays continue to happen.
In general, the update of the IRCC of September 2025, which showed the backlog increased to 958,850 per month, highlights the issues of the immigration system in Canada, and the addition of +116,050 people since June 30 only worsens the situation.
The volume overload and resource gaps reflect in permanent residency and temporary residency applications as they make up 94.6 percent of the backlog.
Even the 56.4 percent within-standard rate remains below the 80 percent target, which postpones families, workers and students.
To beat the temporary applications inventory drop, the applicants may pick their way through the backlogs by submitting full applications and submitting post-August applications.
Employers who have been experiencing delays in PR, and policy makers who see a solution in digital innovations, have to work through the backlog in order to keep Canada attractive to the rest of the world.
The resilience of the system demonstrated by 276,900 new permanent residents and strong temporary approvals demonstrates that the capacity of present-planned filings and restructuring can sweep the way.
Canada is a place of opportunity; if persistence and evidence-based approaches are applied, it will open the doors regardless of the shadow created by the backlog.
New IRCC Update: Canada’s Immigration Backlog Surges By 57,150
The most recent figures on the immigration backlog were released by the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada on September 23, 2025, and show a worrying increase in the immigration backlog in Canada.
The entire queue in immigration has swelled by 57,150 applications during a single month to a whopping 958,850 on August 31, 2025.
This is in contrast to the 842,800 backlog and 2,189,500 inventory in June 30 which shows continuous difficulties.
The cumulative number of applications dropped to 2,199,400 in August against 2,226,600 in July, but the backlog constitutes 43.6 percent of all pending cases, a warning sign on efficiency.
The economy of Canada is greatly dependent on immigrants who make up almost 23 percent of the population and approximately 29 percent of the labour force.
Delays imply wasted time, and aggravated stakeholders, both in tech startups and in healthcare providers.
The article gives the category-by-category data and delves into the processing trends that will be helpful to applicants, stakeholders, or any other person who can have an interest in Canadian immigration.
A Snapshot of IRCC’s 2025 Immigration Backlog: The Big Picture
The picture of a strained system is designed by the release of IRCC in September 2025.
Between January 1 and August 31, the department was in a storm of applications as it tried to match the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan.
That plan, to be announced in late 2024, targets a permanent resident number of 395,000 in 2025, which is lower than 485,000 in 2024, to reduce housing, healthcare, and infrastructure demands.
The table below describes inventories, backlogs and within-standard applications between citizenship, permanent residency and temporary residency comparing the same between August 31, and July 31, 2025.
The overall inventory decreased by more than 2,226,600 to 2,199,400 applications in processing, and the backlog rose by 901,700 to 958,850 by August 31, 2025.
The 3-month comparison showed an increase of 9,900 (= + 0.5) in the inventory between June and August, which peaked in July (2,226,600) and declined in August.
The backlog increased by 116,051 in 3 months (13.8), and 57,151 in July-August (6.5), and 58,151 in June-July (6.9).
In-standard applications declined by 106,150 (-7.9%) in two months between June and August, to 1,240,550 (56.4) in August.
Each category is then decomposed in the sections below around data-driven trends and implications.
Citizenship Applications Breakdown
The applications to citizenship, which is a gateway to complete integration, experience unstable yet controllable growth.
The total number of citizenship applications inventory was 259,500 on August 31, of which 51,200 were backlogged (19.7) and 208,300 were in standards (80.3).
Between April and August, 103,880 citizenships were issued by the IRCC which is a sign of efficient processing.
Month-on-Month Change (July to August): Inventory +4,600 (+1.8%), backlog +2,400 (+4.9%), within-standard +2,200 (+1.1%).
Inventory Since June 30: Inventory +6,800 (2.7%), backlog +3,800 (8.0%), within-standard +3,000 (1.5%).
The +2,400 backlog increase adds 4.2 percent to the +57,150 increase of the system, and 51,200 of the delays (5.3 percent of the total backlog).
The 3800 backlog since June is small and the 80.3 percent within standard rate (almost 80 percent target) renders citizenship trustworthy.
The 12 months standard is mostly met and only 19.7% is late.
Those who want to be included in the 208,300 timely cases are required to submit a full file application through the portal provided by IRCC.
Sub-Stream Insights: Adult grants prevail, where minors are dealt with in quicker times (8-10 months).
The data presented by historians reveals that the current backlog of citizenship was 30,000 in 2023, which implies a doubling tendency.
Processing concentration causes applicants in high-volume regions such as Ontario (40 percent of cases) to wait a little longer.
Permanent Residency Applications Breakdown
Canadian permanent residence (PR) is the backbone of its economy and society and it is the center of the backlog.
There was an inventory of 901,800 on (Date) August 31, and 470,300-431,500 were in the form of backlog in standards and backlog, respectively.
In the year-to-date, IRCC decided 298,500 PR and 276,900 residents were admitted out of the 395,000 target.
Month-on- Month Change (July to August): Inventory +9,400 (1.1), backlog +26,800 (6.0), within-standard -17,400 (-3.9).
The +26,800 monthly backlog explains 46.9% of the +57,150 surge of the system with the 470,300 cases delayed (49.0% of total backlog).
The +54,500 system growth is boosted by 47 percent by the +116,050 backlog that started in June.
Sub-Stream Analysis: Express Entry is an Economic stream (60% of PR) that has around 280,000 backlogged cases, with a median of 6-8 months.
Family sponsorships (e.g., spousal) struck about 90,000 backlogged, at 18 months average, because of checking.
The fact that the backlog has increased at an average rate of +54,500 since June is indicative of capacity overload; only 47.9% of 901,800 applications were timely.
Temporary Residency Applications Breakdown
Short-term residency facilitates short term requirements through study, work and permission of visitors.
The inventory was 1, 038,100 on August 31, 437,300 backlogged (42.1) and 600 750 (57.9) of which was within standards.
In 2018 to date, IRCC completed 594,300 study permits and 931,300 work permits.
Month-on-Month Change (July to August): Inventory -41 200 (-3.8%), backlog +27 900 (+6.8%), within-standard -69 150 (-10.3%).
context Since June 30: Inventory -2,600 (-0.2%), backlog +57,700 (+15.2%), within-standard -60,350 (-9.1%).
The +27,900 monthly backlog also adds 48.8 to the +57,150 surge in systems with 437,300 cases delayed (45.6% of all backlog).
The backlog of +57,700 since June contributes to 49.7 percent of the increase in +116,050.
The -3.8% reduction in inventory is encouraging, but the +15.2% increase in backlog and -10.3% within-standard fall point to delays, although in the case of study (200,000 backlogged, 4 months median) and work permits (300,000 backlogged, 6 months).
The 600,750 timely cases should be exploited by the applicants by filing off-peak (e.g. after August).
Sub-Stream Details: Study allows face caps (360,000 to 2025), which adds to delays.
There is a delay in work permits especially the ones that are based on LMIA as they have been scrutinized more.
The -41, 200 decrease in inventory is an indicator of decreased inflows whereas the +27, 900 backlog is a sign of seasonal overload.
The 1.5M YTD capacity indicates the allowance of 1.5M per year, but delays continue to happen.
In general, the update of the IRCC of September 2025, which showed the backlog increased to 958,850 per month, highlights the issues of the immigration system in Canada, and the addition of +116,050 people since June 30 only worsens the situation.
The volume overload and resource gaps reflect in permanent residency and temporary residency applications as they make up 94.6 percent of the backlog.
Even the 56.4 percent within-standard rate remains below the 80 percent target, which postpones families, workers and students.
To beat the temporary applications inventory drop, the applicants may pick their way through the backlogs by submitting full applications and submitting post-August applications.
Employers who have been experiencing delays in PR, and policy makers who see a solution in digital innovations, have to work through the backlog in order to keep Canada attractive to the rest of the world.
The resilience of the system demonstrated by 276,900 new permanent residents and strong temporary approvals demonstrates that the capacity of present-planned filings and restructuring can sweep the way.
Canada is a place of opportunity; if persistence and evidence-based approaches are applied, it will open the doors regardless of the shadow created by the backlog.
Author: Shubham
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