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 #83: Express Entry Draws, Saskatchewan Job Growth, and Alberta AAIP Invites
byRyan
Welcome to episode 83 of the Canada Immigration News Podcast. In this episode, we dive into Canada’s recent Express Entry draws, analyze Saskatchewan’s record-breaking employment numbers, and break down Alberta’s latest AAIP invitations across four vital sectors.
On June 4, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held Express Entry draw #349, focusing on candidates in healthcare and social services occupations. A total of 500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued to applicants with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 504. To be eligible, candidates must have submitted their profile before 6:47 a.m. UTC on March 31, 2025, as per the tie-breaking rule. This was the second healthcare-focused draw of the year, emphasizing Canada’s ongoing commitment to prioritizing skilled professionals in high-demand sectors.
On June 10, 2025, IRCC conducted Express Entry draw #350, issuing 125 ITAs to candidates nominated through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The cut-off score for this draw was 784, which is 58 points higher than the previous PNP draw. The tie-breaking rule was set at September 12, 2024, at 18:12:15 UTC. As of June 9, 2025, the Express Entry pool had 256,653 active profiles. In total, 35,342 candidates have received invitations in 2025, including 4,992 PNP candidates.
Saskatchewan is making headlines for its impressive job market performance in 2025. The province now holds the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, thanks to strategic planning and policy support. In May 2025, the labor force reached 653,900 with 518,800 full-time jobs—the highest on record. Employment among women rose by 10,900, a 3.8% increase from last year, while male employment also climbed by 5,300 or 1.6%. These figures highlight Saskatchewan’s economic resilience and the growing importance of newcomers in maintaining labor force momentum.
Between May 22 and June 3, 2025, Alberta held four targeted draws under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). These draws invited 92 candidates across high-demand sectors including healthcare, agriculture, technology, and construction. The AAIP’s sector-based approach ensures alignment with Alberta’s economic needs and offers opportunities for skilled workers in key industries to secure a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residency.
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