COW – IRCC applications at a glance: Inventories and backlogs – May 28, 2026
We are taking back control over the immigration system and putting Canada on a trajectory to bring immigration back to sustainable levels. The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan reduces temporary resident targets, stabilizes permanent resident targets, and focuses on economic needs by attracting talent for key sectors like health care and construction.
To manage the system and meet our targets, we maintain an inventory of applications that have not been finalized for each of our programs. The inventories include applications that are within our service standards, as well as a backlog of applications that have been waiting beyond those standards.
Our goal is to process 80% of applications within our service standards. This allows for expected delays in complex cases or when we need more information from applicants. We can only approve a fixed number of applications each year as outlined in the levels plan. When we receive more applications than can be approved in a given year, some applications may need to wait until admissions space becomes available. This can increase overall processing times.
Data is approximate and subject to change.
2,092,700 total applications in all IRCC inventories
1,151,300 within service standards
941,400 in backlog (exceeding service standards)
Temporary residence 480,400 applications are within service standards. This is 58% of 824,500 total applications for temporary residence. Get temporary residence data
Permanent residence 470,600 applications are within service standards. This is 47% of 1,007,400
total applications for permanent residence. Get permanent residence data
Citizenship 200,300 applications are within service standards. This is 77% of 260,800 total citizenship
applications. Get citizenship data
Permanent residence
We made 112,600 decisions and welcomed 83,000 new permanent residents from January 1 to March 31, 2026.
| 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 | 27% | 20% |
| Nov 25 | 32% | 25% |
| Dec 25 | 20% | 30% |
| Jan 26 | 15% | 35% |
| Feb 26 | 11% | 25% |
| Mar 26 | 10% | 20% |
| Apr 26 | - | 20% |
| May 26 | - | 20% |
| 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 | 51% | 50% |
| Nov 25 | 53% | 50% |
| Dec 25 | 48% | 55% |
| Jan 26 | 42% | 55% |
| Feb 26 | 40% | 45% |
| Mar 26 | 38% | 40% |
| Apr 26 | - | 40% |
| May 26 | - | 40% |
| 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% | 20% |
| Nov 25 | 20% | 20% |
| Dec 25 | 21% | 20% |
| Jan 26 | 22% | 20% |
| Feb 26 | 22% | 25% |
| Mar 26 | 22% | 25% |
| Apr 26 | - | 25% |
| May 26 | - | 25% |
Citizenship
We welcomed 285,500 new citizens from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026.
| 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 | 22% | 20% |
| Nov 25 | 23% | 21% |
| Dec 25 | 24% | 23% |
| Jan 26 | 24% | 25% |
| Feb 26 | 23% | 27% |
| Mar 26 | 23% | 27% |
| Apr 26 | - | 25% |
| May 26 | - | 25% |
Temporary residence
| 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% | 57% |
| Nov 25 | 57% | 54% |
| Dec 25 | 56% | 61% |
| Jan 26 | 54% | 47% |
| Feb 26 | 48% | 43% |
| Mar 26 | 46% | 58% |
| Apr 26 | - | 46% |
| May 26 | - | 45% |
| Month | Backlog (actual) | Backlog (projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 42% | - |
| Feb 22 | 32% | - |
| 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 | 41% | 30% |
| Nov 25 | 36% | 37% |
| Dec 25 | 36% | 43% |
| Jan 26 | 50% | 38% |
| Feb 26 | 46% | 41% |
| Mar 26 | 40% | 31% |
| Apr 26 | - | 27% |
| May 26 | - | 23% |
| 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 | 50% | 39% |
| Nov 25 | 49% | 44% |
| Dec 25 | 46% | 43% |
| Jan 26 | 38% | 31% |
| Feb 26 | 27% | 30% |
| Mar 26 | 34% | 21% |
| Apr 26 | - | 29% |
| May 26 | - | 29% |
Additional resources
Students and temporary workers
Information on the total population of students and workers in Canada
Asylum claimants
Monthly data on asylum claimants at a border crossing, in Canada and RCMP apprehensions between ports of entry
Immigration Levels Plan
Each year, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship tables the Immigration Levels Plan, a forward-looking snapshot of immigration targets for the next three years