Understanding IRCC’s application inventories
To meet our annual immigration targets and help us increase processing capacity and efficiency, it’s important to have an inventory of applications for our programs. An inventory contains all applications received for a program that have not yet been finalized. This includes those that are processed within our service standards, as well as a backlog of applications that have been in our inventories longer than our service standards.
At any given time, IRCC is managing over 2 million applications from our inventories. In 2024, we finalized more than 7 million decisions across our lines of business.
Information on this page is up to date as of . Data is approximate and subject to change.
total applications in all IRCC inventories
Service Standards
Temporary residence
applications are within service standards
This is % of
total applications for temporary residence.
Permanent residence
applications are within service standards
This is % of
total applications for permanent residence.
Citizenship
applications are within service standards
This is % of
total citizenship applications.
Backlogs
Temporary residence
in backlog (exceeding service standards)
This is % of
total applications for temporary residence.
Permanent residence
in backlog (exceeding service standards)
This is % of
total applications for permanent residence.
Citizenship grant
in backlog (exceeding service standards)
This is % of
total applications for grant of citizenship.
Managing the backlog
Our goal is to process 80% of applications within our service standards. This allows for expected delays in some very complex cases or when we need more information from our clients before we can finalize their files.
However, if there are more people who apply than available spaces, it may not be possible to achieve this goal and processing times may increase in some categories.
Our projections are estimates based on current operating conditions and may change. They don’t account for sharp increases in received applications, urgent shifts in priorities, or other unforeseen circumstances affecting our operations.
Permanent residence
We made 335,500 decisions and welcomed 310,500 new permanent residents from January 1 to September 30, 2025.
In our inventories
Federal high-skilled
(Express Entry)
Percentage of backlog of federal high-skilled (Express Entry) applications – Actual and projected
Percentage of backlog of federal high-skilled (Express Entry) applications – Actual and projected
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 89% | - |
| Feb 22 | 92% | - |
| Mar 22 | 98% | - |
| Apr 22 | 99% | - |
| May 22 | 100% | - |
| Jun 22 | 100% | - |
| Jul 22 | 99% | - |
| Aug 22 | 90% | 86% |
| Sep 22 | 68% | 72% |
| Oct 22 | 45% | 59% |
| Nov 22 | 31% | 46% |
| Dec 22 | 22% | 20% |
| Jan 23 | 20% | 20% |
| Feb 23 | 20% | 20% |
| Mar 23 | 18% | 20% |
| Apr 23 | 17% | 20% |
| May 23 | 15% | 20% |
| Jun 23 | 17% | 20% |
| Jul 23 | 16% | 20% |
| Aug 23 | 12% | 20% |
| Sep 23 | 12% | 20% |
| Oct 23 | 13% | 20% |
| Nov 23 | 16% | 11% |
| Dec 23 | 17% | 10% |
| Jan 24 | 17% | 15% |
| Feb 24 | 17% | 15% |
| Mar 24 | 16% | 15% |
| Apr 24 | 14% | 15% |
| May 24 | 15% | 15% |
| Jun 24 | 16% | 15% |
| Jul 24 | 17% | 15% |
| Aug 24 | 16% | 15% |
| Sep 24 | 17% | 15% |
| Oct 24 | 19% | 15% |
| Nov 24 | 18% | 20% |
| Dec 24 | 18% | 20% |
| Jan 25 | 20% | 20% |
| Feb 25 | 25% | 20% |
| Mar 25 | 27% | 20% |
| Apr 25 | 22% | 20% |
| May 25 | 18% | 25% |
| Jun 25 | 20% | 28% |
| Jul 25 | 21% | 29% |
| Aug 25 | 20% | 29% |
| Sep 25 | 21% | 20% |
| Oct 25 | - | 20% |
| Nov 25 | - | 25% |
Provincial Nominee Program
(Express Entry)
Percentage of backlog Provincial Nominee Program (Express Entry) applications – Actual and projected
Percentage of backlog Provincial Nominee Program (Express Entry) applications – Actual and projected
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 56% | - |
| Feb 22 | 55% | - |
| Mar 22 | 54% | - |
| Apr 22 | 51% | - |
| May 22 | 47% | - |
| Jun 22 | 45% | - |
| Jul 22 | 43% | - |
| Aug 22 | 42% | 39% |
| Sep 22 | 40% | 35% |
| Oct 22 | 42% | 31% |
| Nov 22 | 42% | 28% |
| Dec 22 | 41% | 20% |
| Jan 23 | 38% | 40% |
| Feb 23 | 32% | 39% |
| Mar 23 | 30% | 32% |
| Apr 23 | 28% | 30% |
| May 23 | 30% | 28% |
| Jun 23 | 33% | 24% |
| Jul 23 | 29% | 22% |
| Aug 23 | 27% | 21% |
| Sep 23 | 27% | 20% |
| Oct 23 | 24% | 20% |
| Nov 23 | 22% | 20% |
| Dec 23 | 20% | 20% |
| Jan 24 | 19% | 20% |
| Feb 24 | 20% | 20% |
| Mar 24 | 21% | 19% |
| Apr 24 | 23% | 19% |
| May 24 | 24% | 20% |
| Jun 24 | 25% | 20% |
| Jul 24 | 23% | 20% |
| Aug 24 | 22% | 20% |
| Sep 24 | 23% | 20% |
| Oct 24 | 25% | 20% |
| Nov 24 | 24% | 20% |
| Dec 24 | 25% | 20% |
| Jan 25 | 30% | 20% |
| Feb 25 | 36% | 20% |
| Mar 25 | 44% | 30% |
| Apr 25 | 49% | 35% |
| May 25 | 49% | 40% |
| Jun 25 | 48% | 46% |
| Jul 25 | 49% | 48% |
| Aug 25 | 49% | 49% |
| Sep 25 | 47% | 50% |
| Oct 25 | - | 50% |
| Nov 25 | - | 50% |
Spouses, partners and children
(outside Quebec)
Percentage of backlog of spouses, partners and children (outside Quebec) applications – Actual and projected
Percentage of backlog of spouses, partners and children (outside Quebec) applications – Actual and projected
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 34% | - |
| Feb 22 | 32% | - |
| Mar 22 | 30% | - |
| Apr 22 | 29% | - |
| May 22 | 27% | - |
| Jun 22 | 27% | - |
| Jul 22 | 26% | - |
| Aug 22 | 25% | 24% |
| Sep 22 | 25% | 23% |
| Oct 22 | 24% | 22% |
| Nov 22 | 24% | 20% |
| Dec 22 | 24% | 19% |
| Jan 23 | 24% | 24% |
| Feb 23 | 23% | 24% |
| Mar 23 | 24% | 24% |
| Apr 23 | 23% | 24% |
| May 23 | 20% | 24% |
| Jun 23 | 19% | 24% |
| Jul 23 | 18% | 24% |
| Aug 23 | 17% | 24% |
| Sep 23 | 16% | 24% |
| Oct 23 | 16% | 24% |
| Nov 23 | 15% | 16% |
| Dec 23 | 15% | 16% |
| Jan 24 | 14% | 15% |
| Feb 24 | 15% | 15% |
| Mar 24 | 14% | 15% |
| Apr 24 | 14% | 15% |
| May 24 | 14% | 15% |
| Jun 24 | 14% | 15% |
| Jul 24 | 14% | 15% |
| Aug 24 | 14% | 15% |
| Sep 24 | 15% | 15% |
| Oct 24 | 15% | 15% |
| Nov 24 | 14% | 15% |
| Dec 24 | 15% | 15% |
| Jan 25 | 15% | 15% |
| Feb 25 | 14% | 15% |
| Mar 25 | 14% | 15% |
| Apr 25 | 14% | 15% |
| May 25 | 14% | 15% |
| Jun 25 | 14% | 15% |
| Jul 25 | 15% | 18% |
| Aug 25 | 17% | 20% |
| Sep 25 | 19% | 20% |
| Oct 25 | - | 20% |
| Nov 25 | - | 20% |
Citizenship
We welcomed 128,100 new citizens from April 1 to September 30, 2025.
In our inventories
Citizenship grants
Percentage of backlog of citizenship grant applications – Actual and projected
Percentage of backlog of citizenship grant applications – Actual and projected
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 46% | - |
| Feb 22 | 45% | - |
| Mar 22 | 42% | - |
| Apr 22 | 40% | - |
| May 22 | 39% | - |
| Jun 22 | 37% | - |
| Jul 22 | 35% | - |
| Aug 22 | 30% | 30% |
| Sep 22 | 30% | 30% |
| Oct 22 | 28% | 28% |
| Nov 22 | 29% | 27% |
| Dec 22 | 28% | 26% |
| Jan 23 | 27% | 26% |
| Feb 23 | 26% | 25% |
| Mar 23 | 25% | 24% |
| Apr 23 | 25% | 24% |
| May 23 | 23% | 24% |
| Jun 23 | 24% | 24% |
| Jul 23 | 21% | 24% |
| Aug 23 | 21% | 26% |
| Sep 23 | 21% | 26% |
| Oct 23 | 21% | 19% |
| Nov 23 | 20% | 19% |
| Dec 23 | 19% | 18% |
| Jan 24 | 19% | 17% |
| Feb 24 | 18% | 17% |
| Mar 24 | 18% | 17% |
| Apr 24 | 18% | 18% |
| May 24 | 17% | 17% |
| Jun 24 | 16% | 17% |
| Jul 24 | 17% | 10% |
| Aug 24 | 17% | 11% |
| Sep 24 | 17% | 16% |
| Oct 24 | 17% | 17% |
| Nov 24 | 17% | 16% |
| Dec 24 | 17% | 16% |
| Jan 25 | 18% | 16% |
| Feb 25 | 18% | 17% |
| Mar 25 | 18% | 17% |
| Apr 25 | 19% | 17% |
| May 25 | 19% | 17% |
| Jun 25 | 19% | 17% |
| Jul 25 | 19% | 17% |
| Aug 25 | 20% | 19% |
| Sep 25 | 21% | 20% |
| Oct 25 | - | 20% |
| Nov 25 | - | 21% |
Temporary residence
We finalized 451,300 study permit applications (including extensions) and 1,016,500 work permit applications (including extensions) from January 1 to September 30, 2025.
In our inventories
Temporary resident visas (TRV)
Percentage of backlog of temporary resident visas (TRV) – Actual and projected
Percentage of backlog of temporary resident visas (TRV) – Actual and projected
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 70% | - |
| Feb 22 | 74% | - |
| Mar 22 | 55% | - |
| Apr 22 | 55% | - |
| May 22 | 56% | - |
| Jun 22 | 71% | - |
| Jul 22 | 67% | - |
| Aug 22 | 71% | 68% |
| Sep 22 | 74% | 71% |
| Oct 22 | 74% | 70% |
| Nov 22 | 70% | 67% |
| Dec 22 | 70% | 77% |
| Jan 23 | 68% | 68% |
| Feb 23 | 64% | 68% |
| Mar 23 | 61% | 65% |
| Apr 23 | 50% | 56% |
| May 23 | 45% | 42% |
| Jun 23 | 46% | 42% |
| Jul 23 | 46% | 42% |
| Aug 23 | 50% | 43% |
| Sep 23 | 56% | 36% |
| Oct 23 | 58% | 34% |
| Nov 23 | 59% | 71% |
| Dec 23 | 61% | 66% |
| Jan 24 | 62% | 70% |
| Feb 24 | 61% | 68% |
| Mar 24 | 56% | 62% |
| Apr 24 | 57% | 61% |
| May 24 | 58% | 60% |
| Jun 24 | 62% | 58% |
| Jul 24 | 64% | 60% |
| Aug 24 | 71% | 43% |
| Sep 24 | 72% | 60% |
| Oct 24 | 74% | 61% |
| Nov 24 | 75% | 59% |
| Dec 24 | 75% | 61% |
| Jan 25 | 71% | 62% |
| Feb 25 | 65% | 50% |
| Mar 25 | 58% | 45% |
| Apr 25 | 54% | 38% |
| May 25 | 54% | 47% |
| Jun 25 | 53% | 42% |
| Jul 25 | 56% | 38% |
| Aug 25 | 60% | 52% |
| Sep 25 | 57% | 53% |
| Oct 25 | - | 57% |
| Nov 25 | - | 54% |
Study permits
Percentage of backlog of study permits (excluding extensions) – Actual and projected
Percentage of backlog of study permits (excluding extensions) – Actual and projected
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 42% | - |
| Feb 22 | 34% | - |
| Mar 22 | 27% | - |
| Apr 22 | 32% | - |
| May 22 | 31% | - |
| Jun 22 | 30% | - |
| Jul 22 | 31% | - |
| Aug 22 | 38% | 39% |
| Sep 22 | 31% | 42% |
| Oct 22 | 26% | 33% |
| Nov 22 | 28% | 31% |
| Dec 22 | 32% | 33% |
| Jan 23 | 35% | 36% |
| Feb 23 | 29% | 34% |
| Mar 23 | 23 % | 25% |
| Apr 23 | 18% | 22% |
| May 23 | 17% | 15% |
| Jun 23 | 15% | 15% |
| Jul 23 | 16% | 15% |
| Aug 23 | 25% | 19% |
| Sep 23 | 30% | 17% |
| Oct 23 | 25% | 9% |
| Nov 23 | 24% | 16% |
| Dec 23 | 18% | 18% |
| Jan 24 | 23% | 34% |
| Feb 24 | 43% | 32% |
| Mar 24 | 46% | 22% |
| Apr 24 | 31% | 19% |
| May 24 | 19% | 13% |
| Jun 24 | 17% | 7% |
| Jul 24 | 24% | 12% |
| Aug 24 | 32% | 18% |
| Sep 24 | 36% | 30% |
| Oct 24 | 33% | 32% |
| Nov 24 | 36% | 37% |
| Dec 24 | 43% | 26% |
| Jan 25 | 45% | 33% |
| Feb 25 | 45% | 24% |
| Mar 25 | 37% | 15% |
| Apr 25 | 30% | 15% |
| May 25 | 23% | 19% |
| Jun 25 | 18% | 11% |
| Jul 25 | 23% | 12% |
| Aug 25 | 32% | 26% |
| Sep 25 | 42% | 34% |
| Oct 25 | - | 30% |
| Nov 25 | - | 37% |
Work permits
Percentage of backlog of work permits (excluding extensions) – Actual and projected
Percentage of backlog of work permits (excluding extensions) – Actual and projected
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 48% | - |
| Feb 22 | 51% | - |
| Mar 22 | 29% | - |
| Apr 22 | 23% | - |
| May 22 | 26% | - |
| Jun 22 | 28% | - |
| Jul 22 | 28% | - |
| Aug 22 | 34% | 29% |
| Sep 22 | 27% | 35% |
| Oct 22 | 23% | 49% |
| Nov 22 | 24% | 55% |
| Dec 22 | 25% | 60% |
| Jan 23 | 26% | 26% |
| Feb 23 | 23% | 28% |
| Mar 23 | 18 % | 28% |
| Apr 23 | 22% | 26% |
| May 23 | 27% | 24% |
| Jun 23 | 27% | 22% |
| Jul 23 | 25% | 22% |
| Aug 23 | 37% | 22% |
| Sep 23 | 55% | 20% |
| Oct 23 | 57% | 20% |
| Nov 23 | 53% | 37% |
| Dec 23 | 49% | 33% |
| Jan 24 | 43% | 47% |
| Feb 24 | 37% | 36% |
| Mar 24 | 41% | 29% |
| Apr 24 | 49% | 35% |
| May 24 | 53% | 45% |
| Jun 24 | 46% | 46% |
| Jul 24 | 43% | 28% |
| Aug 24 | 47% | 22% |
| Sep 24 | 47% | 14% |
| Oct 24 | 46% | 7% |
| Nov 24 | 51% | 44% |
| Dec 24 | 57% | 40% |
| Jan 25 | 42% | 40% |
| Feb 25 | 34% | 32% |
| Mar 25 | 42% | 24% |
| Apr 25 | 36% | 26% |
| May 25 | 38% | 23% |
| Jun 25 | 40% | 24% |
| Jul 25 | 46% | 18% |
| Aug 25 | 45% | 31% |
| Sep 25 | 48% | 28% |
| Oct 25 | - | 39% |
| Nov 25 | - | 44% |