PACP - Processing Times for Refugee Programs - December 5, 2023

Key Facts And Figures

• Over 40,000 resettled refugees were admitted to Canada between January to October 2023, an increase of 10% when compared to the same period in 2022.
• We have met our ambitious commitment to resettle 40,000 Afghan refugees in advance of the December 31, 2023 timeline.
• As of October 31, 2023, processing times for Federal Government-assisted Refugees was 25 months (2 months lower compared to the end of July 2022). Processing times for Privately Sponsored Refugees increased slightly – from 35 months at the end of July 2022 to 38 months at the end of October 2023.

Note: Processing times are calculated with data for applications processed within the last six months.

Key Messages

• Canada has a long and proud track record of helping those in need and will continue to uphold its international commitments in facilitating refugee resettlement. Although the pandemic impacted resettlement efforts at the global-level, we continued to be the largest receiver of resettled refugees, as per the UNHCR’s 2022 Global Trends report.
• We recognize that there is relatively higher waiting times in our refugee class compared to other categories, where we are showing significant improvements. This is greatly driven by our Levels plan approved by Cabinet every year.
• Each year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) establishes operational goals to process refugee applications and meet the Levels (admissions) plan targets. However, for some categories – like Privately Sponsored Refugees – demand has been greater than the annual admissions space allotted, leading to an accumulation of inventory and a longer wait time for clients.
• We would like to emphasize that it is IRCC’s priority to decrease inventories and work towards the longer-term goal of reducing processing times for the refugee programs.
• We continue to develop and implement digital solutions in the short to medium term, including the Digital Platform Modernization initiative to improve processing capacity in all of our immigration programs.
• We will also ensure that sufficient processing staff are available to reduce backlogs and ensure timely processing of refugee applications.

Supplementary Information

External factors

• Country conditions outside our control, including disease outbreaks, instability, armed conflict and lack of adequate local infrastructure can lead to rapid changes that affect safe movements for processing or departures.
• These factors limit the applicant’s ability to submit documents in a timely manner, as well as IRCC’s access to refugees if they are in locations that become inaccessible, resulting in processing delays.

Intake controls

• The implementation of intake controls has helped the Department minimize inventory growth in several immigration categories (such as Express Entry programs). Intake controls allow the Department to calibrate intake to the allocated yearly Levels space approved by the Cabinet. This alignment of intake and output will result in better processing times for clients as people will not apply and then sit in inventory, waiting to have levels space available. The Department is currently working on an implementation plan for new authorities – already sought and received – to control intake within the Privately Sponsored Refugee program.

Service standards

• The establishment of service standards will only be meaningful when intake controls are implemented for key categories, including Privately Sponsored Refugees. Completion of the review and establishment of service standards for all Permanent Resident streams (including Refugee categories) is expected by the end of the 2024-2025 fiscal year, as per the Office of the Auditor General’s report.