The Canadian government has extended the official processing time for proof of citizenship applications to 19 months, effective immediately. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the change, which affects both new and pending applications.
Backlog Nears 100,000 Applications
The backlog has ballooned close to 100,000 files following the December 2025 implementation of Bill C-3, which expanded citizenship-by-descent eligibility. American applicants represent the highest volume of filings, outstripping the next nine leading source countries combined. In January 2026, U.S. citizens filed nearly 2,500 requests, roughly 10 times the volume from the United Kingdom, the second-highest source nation.
Policy Change Triggers Surge
The revised statutes allow individuals born outside Canada to claim citizenship through an extended line of foreign ancestry. This policy shift triggered an immediate wave of applications that has outpaced federal intake capacity. Historically, securing a citizenship certificate took anywhere from a few months to a year, according to Punch reports.
Administrative Halt for Some Countries
IRCC noted that applications from foreign nationals residing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Uganda are temporarily paused due to ongoing administrative halts, which could prolong their wait times indefinitely.
Fees and Documentation Unchanged
Despite the dramatically prolonged wait times, IRCC confirmed that core procedural criteria, registration fees, and mandatory documentation rules remain unchanged. Applicants are encouraged to track their files through the official government portal, though they are warned to expect significantly deferred approvals.
