Canada Extends CUAET for Ukrainians | IRCC Backlog Update & Immigration Trends 2025

Introduction

Canada continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting Ukrainian nationals through the extension of the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) measures. At the same time, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is making significant strides in reducing its backlog, streamlining immigration processes for both temporary and permanent residents.

This blog post explores how these changes impact Ukrainian immigrants and the overall immigration system, along with real-world use cases highlighting their significance.

IRCC’s Backlog Reduction in 2025

Current Immigration Backlog Status

As of January 31, 2025, IRCC’s backlog has fallen to 892,100 applications, marking a 5.33% decrease from December 2024. The declining backlog trend over the past six months is a sign of improved efficiency:

IRCC has also reduced the total number of applications in its inventory, with 2,076,600 applications recorded in January 2025 compared to 2,119,900 in December 2024.

Breakdown of Immigration Backlog

1. Permanent Residency Applications:

   • 839,900 total applications in the system.

   • 356,400 applications (42%) are considered backlog.

   • Only 20% of Express Entry applications fall into the backlog, meeting IRCC’s service standards.

   • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) backlog has increased to 30% (up from 25% in December 2024).

2. Temporary Residency Applications:

   • 998,100 applications, of which 493,700 (49%) are in backlog.

   • Visitor visa backlog is at 71%, surpassing the projected 62%.

   • Study permit backlog is at 45%, slightly up from 43% in December 2024.

   • Work permit backlog has decreased from 57% to 42%, indicating prioritization of work permit processing.

3. Citizenship Applications:

   • Total applications: 238,600

   • 82% processed within service standards, leaving only 18% in backlog.

Real-World Use Case: Backlog Reduction Impact

A tech company in Toronto that hired skilled workers through Express Entry and the Global Talent Stream has seen faster work permit approvals. With reduced processing times, companies can onboard employees more efficiently, preventing project delays and reducing hiring uncertainty.

Canada Extends CUAET Measures for Ukrainians

New Deadline for CUAET Applicants

Ukrainian nationals who arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024, can continue to apply for work permits, study permits, or visitor status extensions until March 31, 2026 under the CUAET program.

• Those who applied but have not received a decision on their CUAET application are not eligible for facilitated processing.

• Ukrainians arriving after March 31, 2024, must apply through standard immigration pathways and pay regular processing fees.

CUAET and Permanent Residency Pathways

CUAET beneficiaries can leverage Canadian work and study opportunities to become eligible for permanent residency (PR) through:

1. Express Entry Programs:

   • Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – Requires one year of skilled work experience in Canada.

   • Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) – Awards points for foreign and Canadian work experience.

   • Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) – Tailored for skilled trade workers.

2. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs):

   • Provinces may nominate Ukrainian workers based on local labor market needs, increasing their PR chances.

3. Family Sponsorship:

   • Ukrainian nationals with Canadian family members can apply for PR under family sponsorship programs.

Real-World Use Case: How CUAET Helps Ukrainians Achieve PR

A Ukrainian software engineer who arrived in Canada under CUAET in 2023 secured a job in Vancouver’s IT sector. By gaining one year of work experience, they qualified for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry, receiving PR in early 2025.

How Canada is Managing Immigration Challenges

To ensure smoother processing and backlog reduction, Canada has:

• Introduced caps on certain programs (e.g., study permits and the Agri-Food Pilot).

• Lowered immigration targets in the Immigration Levels Plan 2025-27.

• Reduced staff positions by 3,300 over three years, raising concerns about long-term efficiency.

While job cuts may impact processing times in the future, the current efforts have successfully reduced the backlog and facilitated a smoother transition for Ukrainian immigrants.

Conclusion

Canada's CUAET extension and IRCC backlog reduction efforts play a crucial role in managing immigration efficiently. The continued support for Ukrainian nationals through facilitated work and study permits enhances their pathway to permanent residency, while IRCC’s backlog reduction benefits all immigrants by improving processing times.

These policy updates demonstrate Canada’s commitment to balancing humanitarian aid with immigration system efficiency, making the country a desirable destination for skilled workers and those seeking safety.