Individuals applying for a proof of Canadian citizenship certificate should prepare for a wait of about 19 months. According to IRCC’s public processing-time tool, nearly 99,500 applications are currently in its inventory.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently updated its processing times, showing that applications for proof of citizenship are taking significantly longer than before.
What is a proof of Canadian citizenship certificate?
A proof of Canadian citizenship certificate confirms that you are already a Canadian citizen. It does not grant citizenship. Instead, it serves as official evidence that you have Canadian citizenship through birth or descent.
Many people need this certificate before they can:
Apply for their first Canadian passport
Prove their citizenship to a government department
Access benefits available only to Canadian citizens
Relocate to Canada as a citizen rather than as a permanent resident or temporary resident
The application fee for a proof of citizenship certificate is CAD $75 per person. The fee must be paid before you submit your application. According to IRCC, the fee is non-refundable once processing has started, even if your application is refused or withdrawn after processing begins.
How to apply?
IRCC allows eligible applicants to apply online in most cases. Applicants who are not eligible or do not wish to apply online can submit a paper application instead.
Before applying, make sure you have all required supporting documents, including proof of your family relationship to your Canadian parent or ancestor and any identity documents requested by IRCC.
Who can apply?
The certificate is commonly requested by people who believe they automatically became Canadian citizens but do not yet have the certificate. This may include:
People born outside Canada to a Canadian parent
Individuals who recently became eligible under Canada's expanded citizenship-by-descent rules
Canadians replacing a lost, stolen, or damaged citizenship certificate
People whose citizenship records need updating after a legal name change or correction
Why are processing times increasing?
According to IRCC's latest processing update, nearly 99,500 proof of citizenship applications are waiting to be processed. As a result, estimated processing times have increased to about 19 months.
One of the biggest reasons is the growing number of people applying after Canada's citizenship-by-descent rules expanded. These changes made many individuals born abroad newly eligible to claim Canadian citizenship through their Canadian parents.
Who is affected?
The longer timeline mainly affects people who already qualify for Canadian citizenship but need proof of that status. You may be affected if you:
Plan to move to Canada as a Canadian citizen
Need a citizenship certificate before applying for a Canadian passport
Must prove your citizenship for employment or government programs
Recently discovered you qualify for Canadian citizenship through your family
The delay does not affect permanent residents applying for Canadian citizenship through the standard naturalization process. It also does not change processing for work permits, study permits, visitor visas, or permanent residence applications.
Should you apply now or wait?
IRCC's published processing times reflect the current inventory of applications. Waiting to submit your application could place you behind an even larger queue if demand continues to increase.
How to avoid delays
Although applicants cannot speed up regular processing, there are several steps that can help avoid unnecessary delays:
Submit clear, complete supporting documents
Double-check that names and dates match across all records
Respond quickly if IRCC requests additional information
Keep your mailing address and contact details updated with IRCC
Track current processing times regularly through IRCC
Applicants facing urgent travel, medical emergencies, or other exceptional situations may also qualify to request urgent processing if they meet IRCC's eligibility requirements.
What this means for future applicants
The longer processing time does not mean Canada has tightened its citizenship rules. Instead, it reflects a sharp increase in demand from people who are already entitled to Canadian citizenship and are now applying for official proof.
For anyone who believes they qualify through a Canadian parent, this is still a good time to confirm eligibility and begin gathering documents. While the wait is longer than many applicants expected, submitting a complete application early can help avoid even longer delays if the backlog continues to grow.
