Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has reported a major improvement in immigration processing times, with the Express Entry application backlog dropping to its lowest level ever recorded since the department began publishing backlog statistics.
According to the latest figures released for March 31, 2026, only 10 per cent of Express Entry applications are now considered backlogged — a sharp improvement from 32 per cent recorded just a few months earlier in November 2025. Immigration experts say the development is welcome news for skilled workers hoping to secure permanent residency in Canada.
IRCC defines a backlog as any application not finalized within its official service standards. For Express Entry, the target processing timeline is generally six months.
Overall, Canada’s immigration backlog has continued to decline steadily. Out of more than 2.15 million applications currently in IRCC inventories, approximately 935,000 remain backlogged, marking another monthly decrease and continuing a downward trend that began earlier this year.
The Enhanced Provincial Nominee Program backlog also improved slightly, dropping from 40 per cent to 38 per cent, while family sponsorship applications remained relatively stable at 22 per cent.
Temporary resident applications presented mixed results. Study permit processing showed significant improvement, with backlog levels falling from 46 per cent to 40 per cent. Visitor visa applications also eased slightly. However, work permit backlogs increased sharply to 34 per cent, reversing months of earlier progress and exceeding IRCC’s projected targets.
The report also revealed that Canada welcomed approximately 83,000 new permanent residents during the first three months of 2026, while nearly 285,500 people became Canadian citizens over the past year.
Immigration analysts say the record-low Express Entry backlog reflects growing efficiency within Canada’s immigration system at a time when the country continues to rely heavily on skilled immigration to address labour shortages, economic growth, and demographic challenges.
The improvements are expected to provide greater confidence to international applicants and employers who depend on faster immigration processing to fill critical workforce gaps across sectors including healthcare, technology, skilled trades, and transportation.