Canadian Citizenship Proof Processing Time Jumps to 33 Months in September 2026

Canada has seen another major increase in the processing time for proof of Canadian citizenship applications.

As of September 2026, applicants applying for a Canadian citizenship certificate may now have to wait approximately 33 months for a decision.

The latest processing time represents an increase of eight months in just one month. In August 2026, the estimated processing time was 25 months.

Based on the current estimate, someone submitting a proof of Canadian citizenship application now may not receive a decision until around mid-2029.

Proof of Canadian Citizenship Processing Times Continue to Rise

Processing times for citizenship certificates have increased significantly throughout 2026.

In January 2026, the estimated processing time was approximately 10 months. By May, it had increased to 12 months. Since then, the processing time has continued to rise rapidly.

The reported processing times were:

This means that processing times have increased from 9 months in December 2025 to 33 months in September 2026.

Citizenship Certificate Application Backlog Reaches 136,000

The number of people waiting for a decision has also increased significantly.

IRCC reportedly has approximately 136,000 people waiting for a decision on proof of citizenship applications.

The number of applications in the queue has grown as follows:

Since December 2025, the backlog has therefore more than tripled.

Approximately 14,200 additional applications were added to the queue in less than one month between August and September.

Why Are Canadian Citizenship Proof Applications Taking Longer?

One of the major reasons behind the increase is the expansion of citizenship by descent rules.

On December 15, 2025, Canada removed the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent for individuals born before that date.

This change significantly expanded the number of people who may qualify for Canadian citizenship through a Canadian parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, or another ancestor further back in their family line.

As a result, many more people have become eligible to apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate to formally prove their citizenship status.

The change has created a particularly large pool of potentially eligible applicants outside Canada, including millions of people in the United States who may have Canadian ancestry.

As more applications are submitted, IRCC’s existing inventory continues to grow, resulting in longer processing times.

Monthly Increases Are Getting Larger

The increase in processing times has accelerated over the last several months.

In May, IRCC added two months to the estimated processing time. By September, the monthly increase had grown to eight months.

Whether this trend continues will depend largely on the number of applications IRCC receives and how many citizenship certificate applications the department can finalize each month.

How Does IRCC Determine Processing Times?

IRCC processing estimates are influenced by several factors, including:

• The number of applications already waiting to be processed;
• The number of new applications being submitted;
• Available staffing and processing resources; and
• The number of applications IRCC is able to finalize.
  
  

Under the current trend, IRCC appears to be receiving applications faster than it can finalize them, contributing to the growing backlog.

Processing was also affected earlier in 2026 when IRCC temporarily paused the finalization of certain citizenship by descent applications while reviewing documentation related to citizenship certificates that had already been issued.

The review ended on June 30, 2026, and processing resumed. However, the temporary interruption may have contributed to the existing backlog.

Can Proof of Canadian Citizenship Be Processed Urgently?

Yes, urgent processing may be available in certain circumstances.

However, it is only offered where an applicant meets specific IRCC requirements.

Applicants may potentially request urgent processing for reasons including:

• Applying for or keeping a job that requires proof of Canadian citizenship;
• Starting or continuing studies in Canada where citizenship documentation is required;
• Urgent travel because of a serious illness or death in the family where another passport cannot be obtained in time;
• Statelessness;
• Bringing a minor child to Canada where the child was born outside Canada and has a Canadian parent;
• Meeting a deadline to give up another citizenship;
• Avoiding serious hardship or harm connected to personal circumstances; or
• Accessing important government or social benefits such as health care, pension benefits, or a Social Insurance Number.
  
  

Applicants should remember that receiving urgent processing does not guarantee that the citizenship application itself will be approved.

The applicant must still provide sufficient evidence to establish their claim to Canadian citizenship.

Complete Documentation Is More Important Than Ever

With processing times approaching three years, submitting a complete and properly prepared application is particularly important.

Missing documents, inconsistent names, incomplete family records, or difficulties proving the connection between generations may result in IRCC requesting additional information.

Every additional document request can create further delays.

Applicants relying on citizenship by descent should therefore ensure that their documentation clearly connects each generation between themselves and their Canadian ancestor.

Where Canadian records are unavailable, foreign birth, marriage, death, and other civil records may also help establish the required family connection, depending on the circumstances.

Should Eligible Applicants Wait Before Applying?

For people who already qualify, waiting to apply may not necessarily be beneficial.

IRCC generally processes applications based on the inventory already ahead of a new application.

With approximately 136,000 people currently waiting for a decision, delaying an application could mean joining an even larger queue later.

The backlog has continued to increase almost every month since the citizenship rules changed in December 2025.

Eligible applicants may therefore want to consider submitting their proof of citizenship application once they have gathered the necessary supporting documents.

Who May Be a Canadian Citizen by Descent?

Individuals born before December 15, 2025 who can establish an unbroken family connection to a Canadian ancestor may potentially already be Canadian citizens.

The Canadian ancestor could include a:

• Parent;
• Grandparent;
• Great-grandparent; or
• More distant ancestor.
  
  

Depending on the applicable citizenship rules, the number of generations between the applicant and the Canadian ancestor may no longer prevent the person from holding Canadian citizenship.

An applicant's place of birth outside Canada does not automatically prevent citizenship by descent.

Similarly, the Canadian ancestor may not necessarily have needed to hold a Canadian passport or maintain ongoing connections with Canada for the descendant to qualify.

Eligibility, however, depends on the specific facts and citizenship laws applicable to the family history.

What Is a Canadian Citizenship Certificate?

A Canadian citizenship certificate is official proof that an individual is a Canadian citizen.

For people who are already citizens by descent, applying for proof of citizenship generally does not create citizenship. Instead, the certificate confirms citizenship status that the person already holds.

Once issued, the citizenship certificate can be used for important purposes, including applying for a Canadian passport and accessing other rights and services available to Canadian citizens.