Express Entry backlog hits record low as IRCC clears federal skilled queue

Canada's Express Entry queue is moving faster than it has in years. IRCC's latest inventory update, with data through March 31, 2026, puts the federal high-skilled backlog at 10%. That is down from 11% in February and well below the 20% IRCC had projected for the month.

An application counts as backlogged when it sits past IRCC's own service standard. For most Express Entry files, that benchmark is about six months.

What the March numbers show

• Express Entry (federal high-skilled): 10% backlog, the lowest figure since IRCC started publishing this breakdown. It was 32% as recently as November 2025.
• Enhanced Provincial Nominee Program: 38% backlog, down from 40% in February and below the 40% projection.
• Family sponsorship (outside Quebec): 22% backlog, unchanged from February.
• Work permits: 34% backlog, up from 27% the month before and above the 21% projection.
• Study permits: 40% backlog, down from 46% but still above the 31% target.
• Visitor visas: 46% backlog, a slight improvement from 48%.
• Citizenship grants: 23% backlog, flat month over month.

Overall, IRCC held 2,154,300 applications across all lines. 935,000 were past service standards, down from 941,400 at the end of February.

Permanent residence vs temporary files

The good news is concentrated in permanent residence streams tied to Express Entry and enhanced PNPs.

IRCC had 1,019,200 PR applications in inventory at March 31, up 1.17% from February. Of those, 477,100 were inside service standards.

From January 1 to March 31, 2026, the department made 112,600 PR decisions and welcomed 83,000 new permanent residents.

Temporary residence is a mixed picture. IRCC had 865,000 temporary files in inventory. 533,600 were processed on time, but 331,400 were backlogged. Work permit delays are the headline worry here after several months of gradual improvement reversed in March.

Why this matters if you are in the pool

Faster Express Entry processing does not mean lower CRS cutoffs or more invitations. It means people who already received an ITA have a better shot at a decision inside the six-month window.

If you are still waiting for an invitation, pool size and draw strategy matter more than backlog percentages.

If you already submitted after an ITA, this is the update you want to see. Fewer stale files in the queue usually means less random delay on straightforward cases.

Work permit and visitor visa backlogs are a separate file. Employers and students should not assume the Express Entry improvement spreads across every IRCC line.

Official source: IRCC application inventories (data as of March 31, 2026).

News summary only, not legal advice. Backlog percentages change every month. Check the live IRCC table before you plan travel, job starts, or school enrollment dates.