Canada plans to cut down Express Entry wait time back to 6 months

Canada has announced that it will step up processing of Express Entry applications, confirming that most new applications will be processed within 6 months.

This will take effect once IRCC resumes Express Entry invitations to Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian experience class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) candidates in early July.

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With pandemic slowing down immigration services, many have had to wait for almost two years for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to finalize their permanent residence applications.

Before the pandemic hit, Express Entry applications usually took 6 months to come through.

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Express Entry is the main way Canada welcomes skilled workers. Permanent residence invitations to FSWP candidates were paused in December 2020 and CEC applications since in September 2021.

This announcement also comes at a time when latest data revealed Canada's lowest unemployment rate on record, with over 800,000 job vacancies being reported. Employers need more immigrant talent to help address their worker shortages.

Canada’s immigration backlog grew beyond 2.1 million across all lines of business in April, according to data shared by the Canadian government.