If you have applied for Canadian immigration recently, chances are you may be facing longer wait times than expected. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has reported that nearly 959,000 applications were stuck in the backlog as of August 31, 2025. This marks a jump of more than 57,000 cases in just one month.
According to IRCC’s September 23 release, while the total inventory of applications dipped slightly from 2.23 million in July to 2.19 million in August, the proportion of delayed cases rose significantly—from 40.5% in July to 43.6% in August. Just two months earlier, in June, the backlog stood at 842,800, meaning delays are growing rapidly.
Toronto-based immigration lawyer Ravi Jain summed it up in a post on X: “Nearly 44 per cent of all files are delayed – impacting families, workers & employers.”
Why the Backlog Matters
Canada’s economy depends heavily on immigrants. With newcomers making up nearly 23% of the total population and close to 29% of the workforce, processing delays ripple across industries. From tech start-ups needing skilled talent to hospitals facing worker shortages, immigration backlogs are more than just paperwork—they affect real people and businesses.
Citizenship Applications: Stable But Slow
Compared to other immigration streams, Canadian citizenship applications remain relatively steady. Here’s the snapshot as of August 31:
- Total applications: 259,500
- Backlogged cases: 51,200 (19.7%)
- Within standard: 208,300 (80.3%)
Between April and August 2025, IRCC granted 103,880 citizenships. The backlog, however, grew slightly—up 2,400 cases from July and 3,800 from June. Most of the backlog comes from adult applicants, while cases for minors are moving faster, often completed within 8–10 months.
Ontario holds about 40% of pending citizenship files, which means applicants in the province can experience longer wait times compared with other regions.
Permanent Residency: The Biggest Contributor to Delays
The largest share of delays lies in permanent residency (PR) applications, which continue to drive the backlog. As of August 31:
- Total PR inventory: 901,800
- Backlogged: 470,300 (52.1%)
- Within standard: 431,500 (47.9%)
From January to August 2025, IRCC finalized 298,500 PR decisions and admitted 276,900 new residents, working toward the year’s immigration target of 395,000. Despite this progress, the backlog grew sharply—26,800 cases in August alone compared to July, and 54,500 more than in June.
Which PR streams are most affected?
- Economic streams (including Express Entry): Roughly 280,000 pending cases, with median waits of 6–8 months.
- Family sponsorships (spousal and dependent cases): Around 90,000 applications, with waits stretching up to 18 months or more due to verification processes.
Temporary Residency: Work, Study, and Visitor Permits
Temporary residency applications—including study permits, work permits, and visitor visas—also show significant delays. As of August 31:
- Total TR inventory: 1,038,100
- Backlogged cases: 437,300 (42.1%)
- Within standard: 600,750 (57.9%)
Although the overall inventory dropped by 41,200 since July, the backlog actually grew by 27,900 cases in the same period. Compared with June, backlogs have risen by 57,700 applications.
Study permits
Study permits are under particular strain, with about 200,000 delayed cases. This is partly due to the federal government’s 2025 cap limiting study permit approvals to 360,000, which has created processing bottlenecks.
Work permits
Roughly 300,000 work permit applications are in the pipeline, many tied to Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA). Processing times for these can stretch up to six months.
Three-Month Trend: A Growing Problem
Between June and August 2025, Canada’s overall immigration inventory grew by under 10,000 applications. However, the backlog ballooned by more than 116,000 cases in just two months.
- June backlog: 842,800 (61.5% within standard)
- July backlog: 901,850 (59.5% within standard)
- August backlog: 959,000 (56.4% within standard)
This means within-standard cases dropped by nearly 8% in just two months, while backlogs surged.
What This Means for Applicants
For prospective immigrants, these delays mean:
- Longer wait times for permanent residency approvals, even in economic streams like Express Entry.
- Extended separation for families, with spousal sponsorships dragging out for 18 months or more.
- Uncertainty for international students, many of whom face visa delays as study caps take effect.
- Employers waiting longer for skilled workers to arrive, affecting industries that rely on immigrant labor.
What Applicants Can Do
While the backlog is largely beyond applicants’ control, there are a few steps that can help:
- Submit complete applications – Ensure all forms and supporting documents are correct and uploaded at the time of submission.
- Track your application status – Use your IRCC account to monitor updates and messages.
- Be prepared for delays – Plan for longer timelines than those advertised by IRCC.
- Seek professional advice – Immigration lawyers or consultants can help navigate complex cases, especially for family sponsorships.
- Stay updated – Monitor IRCC announcements, as caps, targets, and processing priorities may change.
Final Thoughts
Canada’s immigration backlog has now crossed the one million mark, with permanent residency applications making up more than half of the delays. While the government continues to process record numbers of applications, demand is outpacing resources, and backlogs are growing across nearly every stream.
For families waiting to reunite, students hoping to start their studies, or employers desperate for skilled workers, the delays create frustration and uncertainty. Until IRCC makes significant improvements to processing capacity, applicants should prepare for longer wait times and plan accordingly.
Key Takeaways
- Canada’s immigration backlog: Nearly 959,000 as of August 31, 2025
- PR backlog: 470,300 cases (52.1%)
- TR backlog: 437,300 cases (42.1%)
- Citizenship backlog: 51,200 cases (19.7%)
- Backlog has grown by more than 116,000 cases in two months
- Families, students, and employers are among those most impacted
The message is clear: Canada remains committed to immigration, but applicants should expect longer waits before approvals come through.
