The latest figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) indicate a significant reduction in the application backlog, reaching a record low as of March 31, 2026. The IRCC categorizes an application as backlogged if it is not processed within designated service standards.
Express Entry Application Backlog at an All-Time Low
The Express Entry backlog has decreased to 10%, down from 11% in February. This marks the lowest backlog percentage recorded since IRCC started publishing these statistics. Key changes in backlogs for various application types include:
- Enhanced Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) backlog: 38% (down from 40%)
- Study permit backlog: 40% (down from 46%)
- Work permit backlog: 34% (up from 27%)
- Visitor visa backlog: 46% (down from 48%)
- Citizenship grant backlog: 23% (unchanged)
Overall Backlog Statistics
At the end of March, the total number of applications within IRCC’s inventory was 2,154,300. Among these:
- 1,219,300 applications were processed within service standards.
- 935,000 applications were classified as backlog.
Evolution of Immigration Backlog
| Month | Total Immigration Backlog | Change Relative to Preceding Month |
|---|---|---|
| October 2025 | 1,006,700 | +1.00% |
| November 2025 | 1,005,800 | −0.09% |
| December 2025 | 1,014,700 | +0.88% |
| January 2026 | 990,300 | −2.41% |
| February 2026 | 941,400 | −4.94% |
| March 2026 | 935,000 | −0.68% |
Permanent Residence Applications
As for permanent residence applications, IRCC had 1,019,200 pending applications at the end of March. This reflects a slight increase of 1.17% from February. Of these, 477,100 were processed within service standards, resulting in a backlog of 542,100 applications.
The backlog percentage for Express Entry stands at a notable 10%, significantly lower than the 32% recorded in November 2025. The family sponsorship applications showed a consistent backlog of 22%, steady with the previous month.
Temporary Residence Applications
IRCC’s inventory of temporary residence applications reached 865,000 by the end of March, showing a rise of 40,500 from February. The department managed to process 533,600 of these applications within service standards, leading to a backlog of 331,400.
- Work permit backlog: 34% (up from 27%)
- Study permit backlog: 40% (down from 46%)
- Visitor visa applications: 46% (down from 48%)
Citizenship Grant Applications
As of March 31, there were 270,100 citizenship grant applications pending. Out of these, 208,600 were processed within service standards, leaving a backlog of 61,500 applications, which has remained consistent since the previous month.
Conclusion
The latest IRCC update reveals promising trends in the reduction of application backlogs across various categories. Improved processing times signal a more efficient immigration system in Canada, benefiting numerous applicants eager to settle in the country.
