Immigration staff who process visas and permanent-residence applications will be spared federal job cuts, minister says
Immigration Minister Lena Diab says employees handling temporary- and permanent-residence files will not face reductions as other departments prepare cuts tied to the federal staff-reduction plan.
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By Torontoer Staff
Immigration Minister Lena Diab says federal employees who process applications from foreign nationals for temporary or permanent residence will be protected from forthcoming public-service staffing cuts. Other departments have already begun notifying employees as Ottawa moves to reduce the size of the public service by about 30,000 jobs over five years.
Diab told reporters the department’s staffing is linked to the annual immigration levels plan, and that funding tied to those targets will keep processing teams in place. The confirmation comes as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada faces large backlogs in permanent-residence files and has paused some programs to meet admission targets.
Why IRCC staff are being shielded
Diab said IRCC’s budget and staffing have historically been based on the immigration levels plan, which sets the number of permanent residents and temporary residents Ottawa intends to admit. Those operational requirements mean employees who process settlement, work and study applications will remain in place.
The way IRCC has been funded over the years, it’s funded based on the levels plan, and so therefore that will not change. The people that are processing those numbers, they’ll still be there. They will not be affected.
Lena Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Backlogs, paused programs and the immigration levels plan
IRCC is managing a significant backlog in permanent-residence processing, with some cases taking years. The department recently halted several immigration pathways to help meet targets in the government’s three-year immigration levels plan and to reduce wait times.
The plan froze permanent-residence admissions at 380,000 per year for three years, down slightly from 395,000 in 2025. It also cut the number of temporary residents to be admitted this year to 385,000, from 673,650 in 2025, and set lower targets for 2027 and 2028. The changes included a sharp reduction in the number of international students planned for admission.
Among the initiatives paused was the Start-up Visa Program, a 2013 initiative intended to draw entrepreneurs and boost job creation. The program was halted late in December after Ottawa said it was subject to misuse, and officials are working on a replacement with stricter participation rules and shorter wait times.
What the staffing assurance means for applicants and employers
The commitment that processing staff will be retained does not automatically shorten wait times. Advocates and lawyers say inefficiencies in processing contribute to delays, and that some rejections stem from small errors or missing documents that could be resolved quickly.
They need better processing, and just picking up the phone to check things could increase efficiencies. If picking up the phone can resolve an issue quickly, officials should be encouraged to do that.
Stephen Green, Toronto immigration lawyer
Toronto immigration lawyer Stephen Green says some applicants face long delays because officials do not always use simple measures to clarify issues. He warns that processing practices that lead to unnecessary rejections are generating Federal Court challenges and additional workload.
Practical steps for applicants and employers
- Ensure every application is complete before submission, and include clear, legible copies of required documents.
- Monitor IRCC online accounts and correspondence closely, and respond promptly to requests for information.
- Keep records of communications and receipts, including courier tracking and payment confirmations.
- Employers hiring internationally should track changes to pathways and timelines, and have contingency plans for delayed hires.
- Consider seeking guidance from accredited immigration professionals for complex cases, especially if deadlines or legal issues are involved.
Businesses that had planned to use the Start-up Visa Program should watch for details on the replacement initiative. Diab said her department is coordinating with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, National Defence, and the new AI department to develop a targeted alternative that will address sectoral shortages and reduce wait times.
Wider public-service cuts and what to expect
The federal public service numbered almost 358,000 employees last year, and the government plans to reduce that figure by about 30,000 over five years. Other departments have already begun notifying staff. Statistics Canada plans to cut more than 850 positions, and Natural Resources Canada has signalled reductions of several hundred roles over coming years.
Diab’s statement narrows the immediate impact on immigration processing, but applicants should not assume faster decisions while IRCC addresses backlogs, program pauses and changes to intake levels.
The department’s priority, Diab said, is to make programs more effective for applicants and for Canada’s economy by reducing unnecessarily long waits and making sure admissions align with labour and regional priorities.
For applicants and employers, the situation is a reminder to stay informed about program changes, keep files complete, and plan for delays until IRCC clears backlogs and new pathways are introduced.
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