Fresh figures released July 22 confirm that IRCC was sitting on 1,517,770 pending immigration and citizenship files as of May 31 2026, despite finalizing more than 1.6 million decisions in the first five months of the year. The retooled inventory page, analysed by CIC News, replaces the former service-standard tracker with a more detailed breakdown by economic, family and protection classes. Permanent residence applications account for 705,000 cases, with 25 percent already wait-listed for 2027 admissions under quota limits. Temporary residence categories—study, work and visitor visas—comprise a further 404,070 cases, while citizenship certificates and grants make up the remaining 408,000 files. The ballooning queue has operational and business consequences. Global employers report difficulty predicting start dates for transferees, while universities warn that study-permit delays could spill into the January 2027 intake. The tourism sector likewise faces uncertainty as more than 337,000 visitor visa applications await review, complicating event planning for the 2026–27 ski season. IRCC attributes the backlog partly to higher demand following pandemic-era travel rebounds and ongoing humanitarian crises. Officials say automation tools such as the ‘Chinook’ interface and expanded overseas staffing should improve throughput, but industry groups are calling for clearer service standards and triage mechanisms. Until then, companies are diversifying by using CUSMA Professional visas, the UK — Canada Youth Mobility expansion, and intra-company transferee permits exempt from Labour Market Impact Assessments to bypass delays where possible.
Source: CIC News
