Hello Community,
Protected persons statistics: (Source: IRCC estimated processing times)
in Quebec
Total of 39,100 protected persons as at May 12, 2026.
If you apply today: 117 months.
Dependents of protected persons: 21,400
If you apply today: more than 10 years.
Total number of protected persons and dependents (in Quebec): 60,500
Outside Quebec:
Total of 104,300 protected persons as at May 12, 2026.
If you apply today: 15 months.
Dependents of protected persons: 59,200
If you apply today: 32 months.
Total number of protected persons and dependents (outside Quebec): 163,500
Total protected persons inside and outside Quebec: 143,300
Total dependents inside and outside Quebec: 80,600
Total number of protected persons and dependents: 223,900
About estimated processing times:
Processing times are basically indicative. In a shocking move as you remember well, IRCC published in October 2025 a revised estimated processing times following a
retroactive approach (the number of applications as per the quota over the past year 15,000 per year. The result was: processing times of over 99 months for new applications.
Following the approval of the one-time initiative in November 2025, IRCC changed the method for estimating processing times from retroactive to
prospective, taking into account that 58,000 will be processed in 2026 and in 2027 in addition to 20,000 the regular quota for protected person, arriving at processing around 7,000 application per month.
Fact:
As of May 31, IRCC has not YET started the – full – implementation of the one-time initiative, as indicated from the total number of applications processed in April (~3,000), March (~2,500), etc. (as per IRCC’s monthly updates of estimated processing times).
The number of finalized PR applications for protected persons from April 12 to May 11 suggests that IRCC has processed more applications than the annual quota of 20,000 applications. However, this number sharply falls short of the expected number of applications per month (again should be ~7,000).
Following the same typical process and procedures, it is unprobeable that IRCC will be able to finalize ~7,000 protected person PR applications per month. IRCC needs to put in place better efficiencies and synergies and considerably more resources.
The federal government has a clear immigration target: to reduce the number of temporary residents to ~5% of total population. The on-time initiative perfectly serves this purpose.
Quebec Immigration:
Quick facts:
- Reduced immigration target from 61,000 to 45,000 for 2026.
- Closed several regular immigration pathways, leaving thousands in limbo. Those have already spent tens of thousands on studies, establishing themselves in Quebec, suddenly to find out that they have to re-apply in more competitive streams and more difficult pathways.
- Family separation for refugee claimants: in Quebec alone 55% of total removals across Canada, separating one parent from the family.
In Quebec, there are tens of thousands who suffer as a result of the immigration system. This is not limited to protected persons, refugee claimants or their dependents, but also to protective economic immigrants who have found themselves in limbo following the closure of certain Quebecois immigration pathways.
The updated immigration target in Quebec stands now at 45,000 per year down from 61,000.
There are 39,100 protected persons in Quebec, with their outside dependents, the number goes up to 60,500 (~135% of the annual immigration target).
Ironically, here is a report today by Montreal City News:
https://montreal.citynews.ca/2026/06/02/accepted-refugees-quebec-permanent-residence/
“The processing of permanent residence applications and the estimation of their processing times are the responsibility of the federal government,” the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration said in a statement. On the other hand, IRCC attributes the long wait to the Canada-Quebec Accord, which allows the province to set its own immigration levels each year. Quebec plans to admit up to 6,000 refugees and “people in similar situations” in 2026. The protected persons in Quebec are mercilessly caught in this smart blame game.
Protected Persons are already in Canada. They have been in Canada for years. They are well established. Transiting them from their ‘temporary’ status to PR helps reduce the number of temporary residents, a major goal of the immigration plan of the federal government.
Can the federal government step in by offering possible viable solutions, such as offering protected persons and even refugee claimants who are in Quebec the opportunity to move out of Quebec, especially those English-speaking protected persons/ refugee claimants.
I feel really bad for all protected persons/ refugee claimants living in Quebec. I pray that the federal government will do something. I cannot give any advice on an individual level to immediately move to another province. If you can do it, if you can find another employment, if you can do like the great and courageous sister
@Flowercita ... then do it!
Good luck to us all!
