Canada Immigration Security Checks Face Growing Backlogs and Longer Processing Times

Thousands of immigration and citizenship applicants in Canada may be facing significantly longer waiting periods as security screening volumes create growing pressure on the immigration system.

New information from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service indicates that immigration-related security screening requests increased substantially over recent years, contributing to a backlog that has affected applicants seeking permanent residence, temporary status, and citizenship.

The growing number of files requiring security screening has raised concerns about multi-year processing timelines for some applicants.

Immigration Security Screening Requests Increased Sharply

According to available CSIS information, immigration security screening requests rose considerably between 2019 and 2024.

The number of requests increased from approximately 356,200 in 2019 to a peak of approximately 538,100 in 2024.

Following federal efforts to reduce immigration intake, the number later declined to approximately 438,600 requests.

However, the large volume of applications processed in previous years has continued to place significant pressure on Canada’s immigration security screening system.

Security screening can involve multiple government agencies and may be required before certain immigration applications can receive a final decision.

Why Does Canada Conduct Immigration Security Screening?

Security screening is an important part of Canada’s immigration system.

The process is designed to identify potential concerns that may affect whether an applicant can be admitted to Canada or granted immigration status.

Depending on the application and individual circumstances, security screening may involve information sharing and assessments by federal agencies.

Not every immigration application follows exactly the same process, and processing times can vary significantly between individual cases.

Applicants should also understand that a delayed application does not automatically indicate a problem with their file.

In some cases, delays may result from administrative workloads, the complexity of screening or the volume of applications being processed.

Permanent Residence Applicants Could Face Long Waits

Projected timelines for some immigration security screenings have become particularly concerning for permanent residence applicants.

The Immigration Department has estimated projected completion timelines of approximately 64.8 months for certain permanent residence security screenings.

Temporary residence cases have also been affected, with projected timelines of approximately 30.3 months in some circumstances.

These figures demonstrate the scale of pressure facing Canada’s immigration processing system.

Applicants waiting for decisions may experience uncertainty when their immigration plans depend on the completion of security and background assessments.

CBSA Continues Managing Thousands of Active Files

The Canada Border Services Agency is also managing tens of thousands of active immigration-related files.

The involvement of multiple federal organizations can make some applications more complex and may contribute to longer processing periods.

Immigration applications are assessed individually, meaning one applicant’s experience may differ significantly from another’s.

Factors that can affect processing include:

• The type of immigration application;
• Security screening requirements;
• The complexity of the case;
• Information verification requirements;
• Application volumes; and
• Coordination between government agencies.

For this reason, applicants should avoid assuming that every application will follow the same timeline.

What Should Immigration Applicants Do During Long Delays?

Applicants experiencing long processing periods should ensure that their immigration information remains current.

They should also continue to monitor official communications from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Applicants may need to provide additional information or documents if requested by immigration authorities.

It is important to maintain valid temporary status where required and avoid making decisions based solely on estimated processing timelines.

For complex cases, applicants may consider seeking advice from an authorized Canadian immigration professional.

Immigration Processing Delays Remain a Major Concern

Canada continues to manage large volumes of immigration applications while balancing security requirements and processing capacity.

The sharp increase in security screening requests over recent years demonstrates how rising immigration volumes can affect government processing systems.

Although screening volumes have declined from their 2024 peak, the existing backlog means that some applicants may continue to experience extended waiting periods.

Applicants should remember that processing times can change and that official government updates remain the most reliable source of information about individual applications.