IRCC Backlog at Lowest Since July 2025

Canada’s immigration processing system is showing signs of improvement, with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reporting its lowest application backlog since July 2025. The latest figures suggest that processing times may continue to improve for many applicants across permanent residence, study permit, and visitor visa streams.

One of the most encouraging developments is the continued decline in the Express Entry backlog, which has reached a record low of just 9%. This indicates that a larger share of applications are now being processed within IRCC’s service standards, providing faster outcomes for many skilled worker applicants.

Study permit applicants also saw positive movement, with the backlog dropping from 40% to 35% between March and April 2026. Visitor visa processing improved slightly as well, with the backlog decreasing from 46% to 45%.

Not all categories experienced reductions, however. The work permit backlog increased from 34% to 37%, highlighting ongoing processing pressures in Canada’s temporary foreign worker programs. Despite this increase, IRCC’s overall inventory continues to move in a positive direction.

As of April 30, 2026, IRCC had more than 1 million permanent residence applications in its inventory, with nearly half being processed within established service standards. The department has emphasized its commitment to reducing wait times and improving application processing across all immigration streams.

For prospective immigrants, international students, and foreign workers, the latest update is a promising sign that Canada’s immigration system is becoming more efficient after experiencing significant backlogs throughout 2025.

At Method Immigration, we continue to monitor the latest immigration updates and help clients navigate Canada’s evolving immigration landscape with confidence.

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