Canada extends proof of citizenship processing time to 19 months as backlog nears 100,000

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has increased the estimated processing time for proof of citizenship certificates to 19 months, citing a growing backlog of applications that has climbed to nearly 100,000.

The updated timeline, published on the department’s official processing tracker, applies to both new and existing applications and marks a significant increase from previous estimates of 12 months in May and 15 months in June.

According to IRCC, approximately 99,500 applications for proof of citizenship were awaiting processing as of July 7, 2026—an increase of about 17,500 in just one month.

The surge in applications follows changes introduced in December 2025 that expanded eligibility for Canadian citizenship by descent. The revised rules allow more people born outside Canada to claim citizenship through Canadian grandparents, great-grandparents and, in some cases, earlier generations, resulting in a sharp rise in applications from around the world.

The backlog was further compounded by an internal administrative review carried out by IRCC last month. The department temporarily paused the finalization of new citizenship-by-descent applications while it audited approximately 6,500 certificates that had already been issued under the new framework to verify supporting documentation. The review concluded on June 30, but the temporary suspension contributed to longer processing times.

With the current backlog, applicants submitting proof of citizenship requests now are unlikely to receive a decision until early 2028, based on IRCC’s projected processing model.

Despite the delays, the department said there have been no changes to application fees, eligibility requirements or the overall application process.

IRCC also reminded applicants that documents used to establish a family line of descent must be obtained directly from the original issuing authority, such as official vital statistics agencies, rather than unofficial copies or secondary sources.

Immigration experts note that legal citizenship and proof of citizenship are not the same. While some applicants may already be Canadian citizens under the law, they cannot obtain a Canadian passport or access certain government services until they receive their official proof of citizenship certificate.

The department has not announced additional measures to reduce the backlog but continues to process applications as demand for proof of citizenship remains at record levels.