Canada Citizenship Proof Wait Hits 33 Months

Canada’s wait time for proof of citizenship has climbed sharply, leaving many people claiming citizenship by descent facing nearly three years before receiving a certificate.

As of September 3, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada estimates that a new proof-of-citizenship application will take 33 months to process. That is eight months longer than the estimate published in August.

More than 136,000 people are currently waiting in the queue. However, IRCC allows some applicants to request urgent processing when delays could cause serious, time-sensitive consequences.

What Urgent Processing Can Do

An urgent processing request must be attached to a complete citizenship certificate application. If IRCC accepts the request, the file may be moved ahead of applications in the regular queue.

Approval is not guaranteed. IRCC also does not publish a standard processing time for urgent cases. Officers decide whether a request qualifies and how quickly the file should be handled.

One recent case shows that faster processing is possible. Cohen Immigration Law submitted an urgent application in May for a person planning to begin school in Canada. IRCC approved the citizenship application by the end of August.

The department warns, however, that similar applications may take more or less time depending on the circumstances and complexity of each file.

Situations That May Qualify

IRCC lists several circumstances that may support urgent processing. These can include an employment opportunity, the risk of losing a current job, admission to a school, college or university, a serious illness or death in the family, or difficulty obtaining another passport.

Other situations can involve giving up another citizenship by a fixed deadline, moving a minor child to Canada, accessing a pension, health care or a social insurance number, statelessness, or serious hardship connected to personal identity.

Applicants generally need evidence showing why the matter is urgent and when the consequence will occur.

How to Make a Request

For a new application, applicants should include a letter explaining the urgent situation and attach supporting documents. The letter should clearly state the consequence, the important date and the document that confirms it.

Paper applicants are instructed to mark the envelope “Urgent – Citizenship Certificate (Proof).” Eligible online applicants can indicate that they need urgent processing and upload supporting evidence through IRCC’s portal.

There is no additional fee for an urgent request.

People who already submitted an application can also ask for urgent processing. Applicants in Canada or the United States should use IRCC’s web form and provide their identifying and application details. Those outside Canada and the United States should contact the embassy, consulate or high commission where they applied.

Accuracy Remains Essential

If IRCC refuses the urgent request, the application continues through the normal process.

Applicants should not submit a duplicate application to try to speed up their case. They must also ensure all information is accurate.

False statements can amount to misrepresentation. Possible consequences include refusal, a five-year citizenship application ban, a permanent fraud record with IRCC and, in some cases, loss of status obtained using false information.