Canada Citizenship Certificate Wait Time Jumps to Nearly 3 Years

Canada has rose the processing time for new proof of citizenship certificate applications to 33 months, leaving applicants facing a wait of almost three years for a decision.

Key points

• The surge in applications follows Canada's removal of the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent on December 15, 2025.
• When the waiting time stood at 25 months, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the latest processing estimate is eight months longer than in August.
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• The growing delay comes as IRCC faces a backlog of 136, 000 citizenship certificate applications awaiting decisions.
• US Intends to End Work Permits for Spouses of H-1B Visa Holders.

When the waiting time stood at 25 months, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the latest processing estimate is eight months longer than in August. This means individuals submitting applications now may not receive a decision until around mid-2029. Philippines Moves Work Permit Applications Online.

Notably, the delay has rose sharply in recent months. Processing time stood at 10 months in January before rising to 12 months in May, 15 months in June, 19 months in July, and 25 months in August. The latest growth to 33 months is the largest monthly jump recorded during this period.

Notably, the growing delay comes as IRCC faces a backlog of 136, 000 citizenship certificate applications awaiting decisions. Around 14, 200 applications were continued to the queue in less than a month.

Notably, the surge in applications follows Canada's removal of the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent on December 15, 2025. The change expanded eligibility to individuals born outside Canada who can establish an unbroken line of descent to a Canadian ancestor.

IRCC bases its processing-time estimates on a number of factors, including the number of applications already in the queue, available staffing, and the number of new applications it expects to receive.

Applicants may face even longer waits if IRCC requires extra documents or clarification. This can particularly affect cases where names or records differ throughout generations.

US Intends to End Work Permits for Spouses of H-1B Visa Holders. Urgent Processing Available in Some Cases.

Applicants who meet certain conditions can request urgent processing of their citizenship certificate applications.

IRCC may consider such requests when proof of citizenship is required for education, employment, certain travel emergencies, statelessness, moving a minor child to Canada, accessing social benefits, or other specific circumstances.

Students can additionally request urgent processing when they need proof of Canadian citizenship to secure admission to a school, college, or university.

Nevertheless, applicants must meet IRCC's requirements for urgent processing, and having a request processed urgently does not guarantee that their citizenship claim will be approved. Stay Connected with ProPakistani. Obtain the latest international news and global stories wherever you prefer. Follow on Google Discover.

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Taken together, the developments around canada Citizenship Certificate Wait Time Jumps to Nearly 3 Years point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.