What IRCC Has Revealed About PR Processing in 2025

1. Which PR Streams Will Have Their Entire Inventory Cleared
   IRCC plans to fully process the backlog (i.e. all pending applications) in 2025 for certain economic PR pathways:
   • Express Entry programs (CEC, FSWP, FSTP)
   • Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams
   • IRCC’s community pilots
   • Quebec’s skilled worker pathway (Québec Experience Class, etc.)  
2. Other PR Streams Will Only See Partial Processing
   Some PR pathways with large backlogs will not be fully cleared in 2025; only a portion of their pending files will be processed. For example:

PR Pathway

% of Inventory to be Processed in 2025

 Agrifood Pilot

~ 5% 

lolAtlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

~ 33% 

Caregiver Pilots

~ 14% 

Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP)

~ 12% 

Base (non-Express Entry) PNP

~ 35% 

Québec Business

~ 3% 

Start-up Visa

~ 2%  

3. Wait Times / Processing Time Variability
 

• Express Entry aligned programs are generally aiming for 5-6 months for decision times, especially for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) etc.  
• For base PNP streams (non-Express-Entry PNP), processing times are much longer, often in the 19-20 month range. 

   4, Backlog & Service           Standards
 

IRCC has set a target of having 80% of applications processed within service standards.  

But many streams have exceeded their backlog targets. For example, in PNP base streams, backlog rates are much higher than targeted.