Sean Fraser, Canada’s Immigration Minister announced that IRCC will be hiring 1250 new employees to decrease the backlog. Also, this will help IRCC to process new applications faster and as a result application wait times will be reduced.
In addition, a new website has been launched by IRCC which allows you to track the immigration backlogs.
2025 Update—Canada’s immigration department has continued efforts in 2025 to reduce the number of backlogged applications. In January alone, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reduced the total backlog to 892,100—down from 942,300 the previous month. The hiring of 1,250 additional staff, which was first announced in 2022, has played a role in this shift.
Application processing has picked up speed in some areas. Over 41,000 permanent residence files were finalized in January. Of those, nearly 34,000 individuals were granted permanent resident status that month. That said, not all categories are moving at the same pace. Express Entry-linked programs, including the Federal High-Skilled and certain streams under the Provincial Nominee Program, still face delays beyond standard timelines.
Temporary residence applications—like study permits, work permits, and visitor visas—are showing mixed results. About 56% were processed within standard timeframes as of late February. Visitor visa files in particular continue to lag, with 65% falling outside expected processing times.
IRCC has also expanded its online tools. More applicants can now track their file status without needing to phone or email for updates. This change has made things a bit easier for those waiting in the queue, even if the wait itself hasn’t disappeared.
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