Canada’s proof of citizenship processing time jumps to 19 months, queue nears almost 100,000 applicants 

The number of applicants waiting for a decision on their proof of Canadian citizenship application has grown to 99,500.

This represents an increase of roughly 17,500 applicants in the span of just one month.

The implication is that an application filed today will join a queue of nearly 100,000 people, causing a decision that may not arrive until early 2028.

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Canada’s official tracking tool showed the estimated wait time jump to 19 months, up from the 15-month estimate reported previously.

The backlog has grown exponentially since Canada expanded eligibility for citizenship by descent in December 2025. The queue stood at 70,400 applications with a 12-month wait, before climbing to 82,000 applications and a 15-month wait the following month.

Certificate review contributes to delays

A secondary factor behind the recent increase in processing times is an internal review of proof of Canadian citizenship certificates, which slowed administrative operations.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) temporarily paused finalising new citizenship-by-descent applications while it reviewed roughly 6,500 certificates already issued under Bill C-3. This was done to verify that the supporting documentation was sufficient. IRCC completed this review at the end of June.

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Of the certificates reviewed, 100 were flagged for potentially insufficient documentation. Thirty-three were reinstated once IRCC confirmed the underlying evidence supported the claim. The remaining 67 certificates, representing roughly one per cent of those issued under the new law, are currently being resolved. These applicants are expected to be reinstated or contacted shortly.

Although IRCC stated that finalising paused applications should resume soon, the review added pressure to an already rising caseload, pushing the waiting times higher.

Prospects for new applicants

Since Bill C-3 took effect, both the number of applicants and the processing times have risen continuously.

Delaying an application now is likely to result in a longer wait later, as IRCC bases its estimates on the volume of applications ahead of the applicant at the time of submission.

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Notably, IRCC has updated its guidance regarding supporting documentation for proof of citizenship. The department now specifies that documents proving a line of descent must come directly from the original source authority. Applicants currently compiling their documents should ensure they follow this updated guidance.

How the backlog is calculated

IRCC uses a forward-looking method to calculate processing times for proof of Canadian citizenship certificates. The figure is based on:

The number of applications currently in the queue.

The staff capacity available to process them.

The volume of new applications the department expects to receive in the coming months.

Because these figures fluctuate monthly based on sudden surges in application volumes, the estimated wait time has continued to climb throughout the year.

The rise in international applications

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

This changed the rules to open eligibility to anyone who can trace an unbroken line back to a Canadian ancestor, regardless of how many generations have passed.

The legislative change affects millions of individuals internationally, particularly in US regions like New England, where hundreds of thousands of French Canadians settled between 1840 and 1930.

Understanding Canadian citizenship eligibility

Those born before December 12025 who can trace their ancestry back to a Canadian grandparent, great-grandparent, or older ancestor may already hold Canadian citizenship. This applies regardless of where they were born, or whether their parents and grandparents ever lived in Canada.

However, holding citizenship and possessing proof of it are distinct legal matters. A proof of citizenship certificate is the official document that confirms citizenship already held, and it is required to apply for a Canadian passport.