Canada Sees Longer Wait Times for Proof of Citizenship
Canada Sees Drop in Proof of Citizenship Processing
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processed only 2,420 proof of citizenship applications in July 2026. This continues the recent decline in the number of applications finalized each month.
Here, “finalized” means that IRCC issued a Canadian citizenship certificate after approving the proof of citizenship application.
Between January and May 2026, IRCC issued 28,940 citizenship certificates, which means it processed an average of about 5,788 applications per month.
However, processing slowed down in June and July.
Proof of Citizenship Processing Slows Down
In June 2026, IRCC finalized 3,040 applications. Then, in July, the number fell further to 2,420.
As a result, both months recorded fewer finalized applications than the January-to-May monthly average of around 5,800.
IRCC’s latest figures also show that the number of applications waiting for a final decision has increased significantly.
More Applications Are Waiting for a Decision
IRCC reported that it had finalized 34,400 proof of citizenship certificates between January 1 and July 31, 2026.
By comparison, the department had finalized 31,980 certificates by the end of June. Therefore, only 2,420 additional certificates were finalized in July.
At the same time, the number of applications waiting for a decision increased from 99,520 at the end of June to 121,800 at the end of July.
Furthermore, IRCC reported roughly 136,000 applications in the queue by early September.
Because of this growing backlog, the estimated processing time for a new proof of citizenship application has reached 33 months, which is close to three years.
What Is a Proof of Citizenship Application?
A proof of citizenship application is for people who already have Canadian citizenship but need an official document confirming it.
For example, someone may apply for a citizenship certificate if they:
- Need their first Canadian citizenship certificate
- Need to replace a lost or damaged certificate
- Were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent
- Became eligible for citizenship through the expanded citizenship-by-descent rules
Once IRCC approves the application, it issues a Canadian citizenship certificate.
Can Some Applications Be Processed Faster?
Yes. Not everyone necessarily has to wait the full 33 months.
IRCC can consider urgent processing when an applicant has an important reason for needing their citizenship certificate sooner.
For instance, urgent situations may include:
- A job that requires proof of Canadian citizenship
- A current job that the applicant could lose without the certificate
- Admission or enrolment at a school, college or university
- Travel to or from Canada
- Access to healthcare, a pension or other important services
- A serious illness or death in the family
- Certain family or citizenship-related emergencies
In addition, students who need the certificate to secure or maintain a place at an educational institution may also qualify for urgent processing.
How Can You Request Urgent Processing?
Applicants still need to submit their proof of citizenship application through the normal process.
However, they can also include a letter explaining why they need the certificate urgently.
The letter should explain:
- Why the certificate is needed
- The date by which the applicant needs it
- Documents that support the request
For example, an applicant could provide a job offer, a letter from a school or proof of upcoming travel.
IRCC reviews urgent requests individually. If IRCC accepts the request, the application can move ahead of other applications in the queue.
Why Are More People Applying for Proof of Citizenship?
One major reason is a change to Canada’s citizenship-by-descent rules.
On December 15, 2025, Bill C-3 came into effect and removed the previous first-generation limit for certain people claiming Canadian citizenship by descent.
Previously, the rules could prevent someone born outside Canada from claiming citizenship through a Canadian parent if that parent was also born outside Canada.
With the rule change, some people born before December 15, 2025, can now claim Canadian citizenship through a Canadian parent and, in certain circumstances, through a Canadian grandparent, great-grandparent or more distant Canadian ancestor.
As a result, demand for proof of citizenship certificates has increased.
IRCC Also Paused Some Processing in June
The increase in applications also came alongside a temporary processing pause.
In June 2026, IRCC paused finalizing some citizenship-by-descent applications for part of the month while it reviewed documents connected to around 6,500 certificates that it had already issued.
The review ended on June 30.
However, the pause occurred while demand for proof of citizenship was already increasing. Consequently, processing times and the number of applications waiting for a decision have continued to rise.
What Does a Citizenship Certificate Allow You to Do?
A citizenship certificate confirms that a person is a Canadian citizen.
Once someone has proof of Canadian citizenship, they can access the rights and benefits connected with Canadian citizenship. This includes the ability to live, work and travel in Canada and to apply for a Canadian passport.
Therefore, obtaining a citizenship certificate can be an important step for people who need official confirmation of their Canadian status.
Proof of Citizenship vs. Citizenship Grant
It is important to understand that proof of citizenship and a citizenship grant are different applications.
A proof of citizenship application is for someone who is already a Canadian citizen and needs a certificate confirming that status.
On the other hand, a citizenship grant is for a permanent resident who wants to become a Canadian citizen for the first time.
IRCC processed 193,320 citizenship grant applications between January 1 and July 31, 2026. At the same time, around 328,200 grant applications were still waiting for a decision.
This processing volume is much higher than the number of proof of citizenship applications finalized during the same period.
Final Takeaway
IRCC’s latest figures show that proof of citizenship processing slowed significantly in July 2026, while the number of applications waiting for decisions continued to grow.
At the same time, changes to Canada’s citizenship-by-descent rules have increased demand for citizenship certificates.
Therefore, applicants who need proof of citizenship should be aware of the current 33-month estimated processing time. However, people with a qualifying urgent need may request faster processing by providing a clear explanation and supporting documents.
Get in touch with SPS Global
Receive advice on any of your questions regarding immigration. Get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Global. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).
