Canada continues to process millions of immigration and citizenship applications in 2026, with new figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) providing an update on application volumes and processing progress.
As of June 30, 2026, IRCC had welcomed 162,020 new Canadian citizens, while 326,190 citizenship grant applications remained pending.
The latest data also shows significant processing activity across permanent residence and temporary residence programs. IRCC finalized more than 1.56 million temporary residence applications and hundreds of thousands of permanent residence applications during the first half of the year.
The figures highlight both the scale of Canada’s immigration system and the impact that annual admission targets, application volumes, security checks and available spaces can have on processing times.
Canada Citizenship Applications: 162,020 New Citizens Welcomed
According to IRCC’s data as of June 30, 2026, Canada welcomed 162,020 new citizens during the year to date.
At the same time, 326,190 grant applications were still pending.
Citizenship applications are managed separately from Canada’s annual immigration levels targets. While permanent resident admissions are influenced by the Immigration Levels Plan, citizenship grants are not counted as admissions under those targets.
This distinction is important for applicants because the number of citizenship applications being processed can change depending on application volumes and processing capacity.
IRCC Finalizes More Than 1.56 Million Temporary Residence Applications
Temporary residence continues to represent a major part of Canada’s immigration processing system.
Between January 1 and June 30, 2026, IRCC finalized:
- 1,566,455 temporary residence applications
- 99,075 study permit applications
- 161,325 work permit applications
- 1,306,055 visitor visa applications
There were 401,280 temporary residence applications not yet finalized as of June 30.
Temporary residence applications include students, workers and visitors. However, the figures provided for temporary residence applications cover new applications rather than extensions.
More Than 141,000 Economic Permanent Residence Applications Finalized
IRCC also reported substantial activity in permanent residence processing.
By June 30, 2026, the department had finalized:
- 141,105 economic applications
- 54,520 family applications
- 55,295 protection applications
The figures demonstrate continued processing across Canada’s major permanent residence categories.
However, processing capacity is not the only factor determining when an application is finalized.
Why some Canadian Immigration Applications Remain Pending
IRCC explains that applications can remain in the processing system for several reasons.
One major factor is the availability of spaces under Canada’s annual immigration targets. When applications exceed the spaces available in a particular program or category, some files may need to wait until space becomes available in a future year.
Other factors can also affect processing, including:
- Missing or incomplete information
- Requests for additional documents
- Verification of applicant information
- Security screening
- Application volumes
- Program-specific processing requirements
As a result, the number of applications waiting in the system can increase even while IRCC continues to finalize a large number of files.
Temporary Residence Processing Remains Dominated by Visitor Visas
Visitor visa applications accounted for the largest share of temporary residence applications finalized during the first half of 2026.
IRCC finalized 1,306,055 visitor visa applications, while 337,100 remained pending as of June 30.
The department notes that visitor visa processing can depend on factors such as whether the application is complete, how quickly biometrics and supporting documents are submitted, whether additional security screening is required and application volumes from a particular country.
Study Permit and Work Permit Processing
International students and temporary foreign workers also remain important components of Canada’s temporary immigration system.
IRCC finalized 99,075 study permit applications, with 36,520 applications still pending as of June 30.
Students are encouraged to submit their study permit applications as early as possible after receiving acceptance from a Canadian designated learning institution, particularly because application volumes can fluctuate around the academic year.
For work permits, IRCC finalized 161,325 applications and had 27,655 applications awaiting finalization.
Certain work permit applications can receive faster processing when they support specific labour market or economic priorities.
Canada Plans Transition of Up to 33,000 Work Permit Holders
Another notable development highlighted in the source information is an initiative to transition up to 33,000 work permit holders to permanent residency in 2026 and 2027.
The initiative reflects Canada’s broader effort to manage temporary and permanent immigration together while supporting labour market needs.
For temporary workers, a transition to permanent residence can provide a longer-term immigration pathway, subject to the eligibility requirements of the applicable program.
What the Latest IRCC Numbers Mean for Applicants
The June 2026 figures show that Canada’s immigration system continues to handle a very high volume of applications across citizenship, temporary residence and permanent residence.
However, applicants should not interpret overall processing figures as a guarantee of how quickly an individual application will be finalized.
IRCC states that its published data is approximate, rounded to the closest multiple of five and subject to change.
Applicants should therefore check the official processing-time information for their specific application type and make sure their files contain all required information and documentation.
Key Canada Immigration Numbers as of June 30, 2026
| Category | Finalized / Welcomed | Pending |
| New Canadian citizens | 162,020 | 326,190 citizenship grant applications |
| Temporary residence | 1,566,455 | 401,280 |
| Study permits | 99,075 | 36,520 |
| Work permits | 161,325 | 27,655 |
| Visitor visas | 1,306,055 | 337,100 |
| Economic PR applications | 141,105 | — |
| Family PR applications | 54,520 | — |
| Protection applications | 55,295 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
IRCC reported that Canada welcomed 162,020 new citizens between January 1 and June 30, 2026.
There were 326,190 grant applications pending as of June 30, 2026.
IRCC finalized 1,566,455 temporary residence applications during the first half of 2026.
Applications can remain pending because of annual immigration targets, limited program spaces, incomplete information, additional document requests, verification requirements or security screening.
No. According to IRCC, citizenship grants, visitor visas and asylum claims are not included in the Immigration Levels Plan. Permanent resident admissions and certain temporary resident arrivals are managed through the levels framework.