IRCC data show Express Entry backlog hits record low, easing wait times…
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reported that the Express Entry backlog has fallen to its lowest level on record, reducing processing times for skilled worker applicants. The data, released in late May 2025, show the inventory of pending applications has dropped significantly compared to the peak levels seen in 2021 and 2022.
At its height in September 2021, the Express Entry backlog exceeded 153,000 applications, creating wait times that stretched beyond the six-month service standard for many candidates. The current inventory marks a sharp reversal from that period, when pandemic-related office closures and reduced staffing left tens of thousands of applicants in limbo for over a year. IRCC has not disclosed the exact current backlog figure in the available reporting, but the department confirmed the reduction represents the lowest point since the Express Entry system launched in 2015.
The decline follows a multi-year effort by IRCC to clear the backlog through increased staffing, digital processing tools, and a shift in draw priorities. In 2023 and 2024, the department conducted category-based selection rounds targeting French-language proficiency, healthcare occupations, and trades workers, which allowed officers to process applications more efficiently by grouping similar profiles. The department also paused general Federal Skilled Worker draws for extended periods in 2021 and 2022 to focus on clearing older applications, a strategy that drew criticism at the time but appears to have contributed to the current reduction.
The backlog reduction primarily benefits Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applicants, who make up the majority of Express Entry candidates. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates with Express Entry profiles also see faster processing, as their applications move through the same queue. Applicants from India, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Pakistan—countries that historically account for the largest share of Express Entry invitations—stand to gain the most from the shorter wait times.
Candidates with pending applications should check their IRCC online accounts for updates on application status and any requests for additional documents. Those who received Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in recent draws can expect processing closer to the six-month standard, though individual timelines vary based on completeness of documentation and security screening requirements.