Processing times for proof of Canadian citizenship applications jumped in September and now sit at nearly three years, according to the latest published figure from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The proof of citizenship — formally the citizenship certificate — is the document IRCC issues to confirm a person's Canadian citizenship. Applicants who need official proof of their status, for example to obtain a passport or access government services, must file this application and wait for IRCC to process it before receiving the certificate.

The September figure marks a significant increase compared with earlier posted times, pushing the wait close to 36 months. That means a person who submits a proof of citizenship application today should expect to wait almost three years before IRCC finalizes the file, based on the current service standard published on the department's website.

Who is affected

The change affects anyone applying for a citizenship certificate, including Canadians born abroad who need documentary proof of their citizenship and individuals applying on behalf of minor children. The certificate itself does not grant citizenship; it only confirms a status the applicant already holds. A longer processing time therefore delays access to documents and services that depend on that proof, such as passport applications.

What changes in practice

For prospective applicants, the practical impact is straightforward: the gap between submitting an application and receiving the certificate has widened. Applicants should plan around the current posted timeframe when scheduling downstream steps, including passport applications or any administrative process requiring proof of citizenship.

IRCC updates its published processing times regularly, and the figure posted in September reflects the most recent snapshot of how long the department estimates it will take to process a complete application submitted now. Applicants can check the current estimate directly on the official IRCC website, where the department publishes service times for each immigration and citizenship stream.

Why processing times fluctuate

IRCC processing times depend on application volumes, staffing capacity, and the completeness of individual files. The department calculates its posted times based on how long it took to finalize 80 percent of applications in the recent past, then applies that benchmark to new submissions. When volumes rise or backlogs grow, the published estimate moves upward — as it did in September for this stream.

What applicants should watch

Applicants and prospective applicants should monitor the IRCC website for the most current processing estimate, since the September figure may change in subsequent updates. Anyone with a pending application can also check its status through the department's online tools.

This article reports publicly available processing time information and does not constitute legal advice. Readers with questions about a specific application should consult the official IRCC website or a licensed immigration professional.