IRCC’s application inventory exceeded 1.5 million in May 2026, department data shows
As of May 31, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada had 1,517,770 applications awaiting processing in its inventory. This figure includes permanent residence, temporary residence, and Canadian citizenship applications that have yet to be finalized by an immigration officer. The immigration department released this data on its revamped Inside IRCC’s application processing system webpage on July 21.
The latest inventory figure marks a significant milestone for IRCC, which has been working to process a large volume of applications in recent years. To put this number into context, the department's inventory has been steadily increasing, and the latest update shows that IRCC is still dealing with a substantial backlog of applications. The previous iteration of the Inside IRCC webpage provided information on the proportion of applications being processed within service standards, but this data is no longer available. Instead, the new webpage provides more detailed information on the number of applications across each application type that were awaiting finalization as of May 31.
The breakdown of the inventory shows that there were 705,315 permanent residence applications awaiting a final decision as of May 31. This category includes Economic, Family, and Protection applications, which are further broken down into more specific pathways to permanent residence. For example, the Economic category includes pathways such as Express Entry, federal business programs, and regional economic programs, including the Provincial Nominee Program and the Atlantic Immigration Program. The Family category covers family reunification and international adoption, while the Protection category includes protected persons in Canada, government-assisted refugees, and humanitarian and compassionate grounds. Between January 1 and May 31, IRCC finalized a total of 198,700 permanent residence applications.
According to IRCC, the values provided have been rounded to the nearest multiple of five. "See your eligibility for all Express Entry streams" is a message that IRCC is promoting, as the department continues to process a large volume of applications. The latest update shows that IRCC has finalized a significant number of applications, including 111,000 economic immigration applications and 45,900 family sponsorship applications.
The latest inventory figures will be of interest to a wide range of applicants, including those applying for permanent residence through Economic, Family, or Protection pathways. This includes applicants from countries around the world who are seeking to immigrate to Canada through various programs, such as Express Entry or the Provincial Nominee Program. The figures will also be relevant to temporary residence applicants, including international students, workers, and visitors who are awaiting the processing of their initial study permits, work permits, or visitor visas.
For applicants who are waiting for their applications to be processed, the latest update from IRCC provides some insight into the current state of the department's inventory. The fact that IRCC has finalized a significant number of applications in recent months is a positive sign, but the large backlog of applications still awaiting processing means that many applicants will have to wait for some time before their applications are finalized. Applicants can check the status of their applications through their online account and should continue to monitor the IRCC website for updates on processing times and inventory figures. They can also use the official government website to get the latest information on immigration programs and application processing.