Proof of Canadian Citizenship Processing Time Rises to 33 Months in September 2026

Applicants seeking proof of Canadian citizenship are now facing much longer processing times.

As of September 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is showing a processing time of approximately 33 months for proof of citizenship applications.

This is a significant increase from August 2026, when the estimated processing time was 25 months.

The latest update means someone submitting a proof of Canadian citizenship application now may not receive a decision until around mid-2029.

Proof of Citizenship Processing Time Increased by Eight Months

IRCC updated its processing time information in early September 2026.

The estimated wait increased from 25 months in August to 33 months in September, an increase of eight months in just one month.

Processing times have risen quickly throughout 2026.

In January 2026, the estimated processing time was around 10 months. By May, it had increased to 12 months.

The wait then continued to rise:

• May 2026: 12 months
• June 2026: 15 months
• July 2026: 19 months
• August 2026: 25 months
• September 2026: 33 months
  
  

This means processing times have nearly tripled within a few months.

Proof of Citizenship Application Backlog Also Growing

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

IRCC reported approximately 136,000 people waiting for decisions on proof of citizenship applications in September 2026.

This is up from approximately 121,800 in August, meaning more than 14,000 additional applications were added to the queue in less than a month.

The backlog has grown steadily since the end of 2025.

In December 2025, there were approximately 40,400 people waiting for a decision. By September 2026, that number had increased to approximately 136,000.

This means the number of pending applications has more than tripled.

Why Are Proof of Citizenship Applications Increasing?

One of the main reasons for the increase is the expansion of Canadian citizenship by descent rules.

On December 15, 2025, changes to Canada's citizenship law removed the previous first-generation limit for certain people born before that date.

The changes made it possible for more descendants of Canadian citizens to have their citizenship recognized, including some grandchildren, great-grandchildren and later generations.

As a result, many people with Canadian ancestry became eligible to apply for proof of citizenship.

The number of applications has increased significantly since the rules changed.

What Is a Proof of Canadian Citizenship Application?

A proof of citizenship application is generally used by someone who believes they are already a Canadian citizen but needs an official document confirming their status.

If approved, the applicant receives a Canadian citizenship certificate.

The certificate can then be used as official proof of Canadian citizenship and may help the person apply for documents such as a Canadian passport.

Unlike someone applying to become a Canadian citizen through naturalization, a person applying for proof of citizenship may already be a citizen under Canadian law.

Can Proof of Citizenship Applications Be Processed Faster?

IRCC allows urgent processing in certain situations.

However, urgent processing is only available when an applicant meets specific requirements.

Examples may include situations involving:

• Employment, including starting or keeping a job.
• Education where proof of citizenship is required for admission or studies.
• Urgent travel because of a serious illness or death in the family.
• Statelessness.
• Bringing a minor child to Canada when the child was born outside Canada and has a Canadian parent.
• Renouncing another citizenship before a fixed deadline.
• Serious hardship connected to factors such as race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity or membership in a particular group.
• Accessing certain social benefits, including health care, pensions or a Social Insurance Number.
  
  

Meeting one of these circumstances does not automatically mean an application will be approved.

The applicant still needs to prove both the urgency of the request and the underlying citizenship claim.

Complete Documentation Is More Important Than Ever

With processing times already approaching three years, applicants should ensure their applications are complete and properly documented.

Missing records, unclear family relationships or differences in names across documents can result in IRCC requesting additional information.

Every additional document request can add further delays to an already lengthy process.

Applicants claiming citizenship through earlier generations may need several documents to establish the complete family connection.

These may include:

• Birth certificates.
• Marriage certificates.
• Death certificates.
• Citizenship records.
• Naturalization documents.
• Historical civil records.
• Documents proving the relationship between each generation.
  
  

Applications involving grandparents or great-grandparents can require considerably more documentation than a straightforward parent-to-child citizenship claim.

Monthly Increases in Processing Times Are Getting Larger

The monthly increases in processing times have also become larger.

In May 2026, the processing time increased by two months.

In June, it increased by three months.

In July, the increase was four months.

In August, it increased by six months.

In September, another eight months were added.

This shows how quickly the estimated wait has been increasing as more applications enter the system.

However, future processing times will depend on factors such as the number of applications IRCC receives, staffing levels and how many files the department can finalize.

Previous Review May Have Also Affected Processing

Processing volumes may also have been affected earlier in 2026 when IRCC reviewed some previously issued citizenship certificates.

According to the reported information, IRCC temporarily paused the finalization of certain citizenship-by-descent applications for approximately one month while reviewing supporting documentation.

The review ended on June 30, 2026, and processing resumed.

The temporary pause may have contributed to slower processing and a growing backlog.

Should Eligible Applicants Wait Before Applying?

The growing backlog means people who believe they qualify for proof of citizenship may want to carefully consider the timing of their application.

IRCC's processing estimate is partly influenced by the number of applications already in the queue.

A person who applies later generally enters the queue behind applications submitted earlier.

With the number of pending applications continuing to rise, waiting does not necessarily mean processing times will become shorter.

Applicants should instead focus on confirming their eligibility and preparing a complete application with the required supporting evidence.

Who May Qualify for Canadian Citizenship by Descent?

People born before December 15, 2025 may potentially qualify for Canadian citizenship if they can establish an uninterrupted citizenship connection to a Canadian parent, grandparent, great-grandparent or another qualifying ancestor.

Eligibility depends on the specific facts of the family history and the citizenship laws that applied to each generation.

Being born outside Canada does not automatically prevent someone from qualifying for citizenship by descent.

However, applicants need to establish that Canadian citizenship legally passed through each relevant generation.

Citizenship Certificate Confirms Existing Status

For people who qualify under citizenship-by-descent provisions, the citizenship certificate confirms the Canadian citizenship they already hold.

Once the certificate is issued, it can be used as proof of Canadian citizenship for purposes such as applying for a Canadian passport or accessing other rights and services available to Canadian citizens.