According to the latest update from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canada’s immigration backlog has dropped to 2.4 million. The record across all aspects of business has advanced as follows since July 2021:
• November 3, 2022: 2,411,388 persons • September 30, 2022: 2,600,000 persons • August 31, 2022: 2,583,827 persons • July 15-17, 2022: 2,679,031 persons • June 1-6, 2022: 2,387,884 persons • April 30-May 2, 2022: 2,130,385 persons • April 11-12, 2022: 2,031,589 persons • March 15 and 17, 2022: 1,844,424 persons • February 1, 2022: 1,815,628 persons • December 15, 2021: 1,813,144 persons • October 27, 2021: 1,792,404 persons • July 6, 2021: 1,447,474 persons
As of October 31, there were 331,401 citizenship applicants, compared to 351,964 on October 3. Compared to October 3, the permanent residence inventory stood at 506,421 people.
According to the October 3 temporary residence inventory, there were 1,651,649 people, while on November 3 it stood at 1,537,566. This resulted in reductions in two of the three major categories, with the biggest reduction in temporary residences.
39,589 Express Entry applications are awaiting processing as of November 3. In July, the IRCC resumed inviting Express Entry candidates from all programs. Due to IRCC’s struggles to meet its service standard of processing Express Entry applications within six months, draws were limited to candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) between September 21, 2021, and July 6, 2022. After reducing the number of Express Entry invitations for Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates, IRCC has returned to its six-month service standard for candidates who have received a permanent residence invitation since July 6. The PNP has an inventory of 62,073 total applications.
Family Class Inventory
A total of 128,112 family immigrants are currently in the system, compared to 125,488 on October 3. The Spouses and Partners program is among the largest inventories among all lines of business, at 61,118, a slight rise in the number as compared to October 3. The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) has an inventory of 55,653 people compared to 53530 people waiting for decisions in October.
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Canada Immigration News Podcast #87: Express Entry Draws, Alberta Early Childhood Educator Bursary, and New 2026 Express Entry Categories
byRyan
Canada Immigration News Podcast #87 brings you the latest updates shaping Canada’s immigration landscape. In this episode, we cover Express Entry Draw 360 that targeted French-speaking candidates, the latest draw for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates with a CRS of 800, upcoming 2026 Express Entry categories, and Alberta’s investment in an Early Childhood Educator Bursary. Each of these developments highlights how Canada continues to refine its immigration pathways while responding to workforce needs and community priorities.
On August 8, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its third draw of the week, Express Entry Draw 360, focusing on French-speaking candidates. A total of 2,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 481. This strategy underscores Canada’s commitment to building Francophone communities outside Quebec and strengthening bilingual workforces. French speakers gain not only lower CRS cut-offs but also additional points for bilingualism, giving them a significant advantage compared to other categories.
The week also saw Canada issue invitations to 192 PNP candidates on August 18, 2025. With a CRS cut-off of 800, this draw highlighted the continued importance of provincial nominations in Express Entry. Candidates nominated through provincial programs benefit from an automatic 600-point boost, making their profiles highly competitive. As Canada balances program-specific and category-based draws, PNP candidates remain central to meeting regional labour market demands and filling skill shortages across the provinces.
Looking ahead, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has revealed that new categories will be added to Express Entry in 2026. In addition to the current six categories, which include healthcare, STEM, trades, agriculture, education, and French-language proficiency, three more will be introduced: Leadership and Senior Management, Researchers and Scientists, and Highly Skilled Military Recruits. These updates demonstrate Canada’s forward-thinking approach to aligning immigration intake with future economic needs. Skilled professionals in these new categories will have greater opportunities to secure permanent residency through a more targeted selection process.
Immigration and education are closely connected, and Alberta is addressing a critical workforce need by investing $3.3 million into its Early Childhood Educator Bursary program. This initiative provides $10,000 in tuition support for 300 students over the next three years, helping them complete certificate programs and enter licensed child-care centres. Alberta continues to face staffing shortages in early learning, and this bursary aims to remove financial barriers while encouraging more people to pursue careers in child care. For international students and newcomers considering careers in early childhood education, this investment highlights new pathways into meaningful employment in Canada.
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