Canada Citizenship Certificate Finalizations Fell in June

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada finalized 3,040 proof of citizenship applications in June 2026, according to newly released federal data.

The figures suggest a sharp slowdown compared with the pace recorded during the first five months of the year. At the same time, the number of applications waiting for a decision increased significantly.

Finalizations Fell During June

IRCC reported that 31,980 proof of citizenship certificates were finalized between January 1 and June 30, 2026.

At the end of May, that total stood at 28,940. The difference means 3,040 additional certificates were finalized during June.

Based on the earlier figures, IRCC had been averaging roughly 5,800 finalizations per month between January and May. June’s total therefore represents a drop of nearly half.

However, detailed month-by-month figures were not previously available, so the comparison should be treated as an estimate rather than an exact monthly trend.

Application Backlog Continued to Grow

While fewer certificates were finalized in June, the number of applications awaiting decisions rose quickly.

IRCC had 82,020 proof of citizenship applications waiting at the end of May. By June 30, that number had reached 99,520, an increase of 17,500 in one month.

By August, IRCC’s processing tool indicated that roughly 121,800 applicants were waiting for decisions on proof of Canadian citizenship applications.

June Review Likely Slowed Processing

A temporary IRCC review appears to be one of the main reasons for the June slowdown.

During the month, some recent citizenship certificate recipients in the United States were told that their approved certificates were under review.

IRCC temporarily paused finalizing new citizenship-by-descent applications while it examined supporting documents connected to about 6,500 certificates that had already been issued.

The review ended on June 30.

IRCC identified about 100 certificates with possible documentation concerns. Of those, 33 were later reinstated after officials confirmed the supporting evidence.

The temporary pause, combined with rising application volumes, likely contributed to the lower number of June finalizations.

Bill C-3 Has Increased Demand

Demand for proof of citizenship has risen sharply since Bill C-3 took effect on December 15, 2025.

The law removed the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent for people born before that date.

Under the previous rule, someone born outside Canada could face limits if their Canadian parent had also been born abroad.

The change means some people with an unbroken family connection to a Canadian grandparent, great-grandparent or even earlier ancestor may already be Canadian citizens by descent.

A large share of the new interest has come from the United States, especially New England, where many descendants of French Canadians live.

Proof of Citizenship Is Different From a Citizenship Grant

A proof of citizenship application is for someone who is already a Canadian citizen and needs an official certificate confirming that status.

The certificate may be required before applying for a Canadian passport.

A citizenship grant is different. It is used by permanent residents who want to become Canadian citizens for the first time.

IRCC finalized 162,020 citizenship grant applications during the first half of 2026. Another 326,190 were awaiting decisions as of June 30.