Why have processing times surged since December 2025?
Bill C-3, which came into force on December 15, 2025, widened eligibility for Canadian citizenship — notably for people affected by the former “first-generation limit”, which prevented some children born abroad to Canadian citizens from automatically obtaining citizenship.
In practice, this expansion sharply increased the number of people now eligible to apply for proof of citizenship — hence the dramatic rise in the volume of applications received by IRCC, and the resulting congestion in processing times.
Who is affected by this processing time?
- ✅ People born abroad to a Canadian parent who are newly eligible following Bill C-3
- ✅ Anyone who needs a citizenship certificate to renew a passport, prove their status to an employer, or complete another administrative process
- ✅ People who already have an application in progress that has not yet been processed
Caregivers also affected — 76-month wait
The September 2026 update includes, for the first time, a consolidated processing time for permanent residence for caregivers : 76 months, with about 36,900 people awaiting a decision. It is one of the longest processing times currently displayed by IRCC, across all categories.
For families who depend on a caregiver program to obtain permanent residence, this figure underlines the importance of structuring the file properly from the start, to avoid any additional avoidable delay.
What to do while waiting for your citizenship certificate?
- Check that your application is complete before submitting it — an incomplete file goes back to the end of the queue
- Keep a copy of all your documents and of your IRCC acknowledgement of receipt
- If you urgently need proof of citizenship (travel, employment), find out about the expedited processing options available for your situation
- Follow your file’s progress through your IRCC online account rather than by phone
Let’s review your immigration plan
Book a 45-minute consultation with Mohamed Rachid Trissia to review your situation and learn about your options.
FAQ — Citizenship processing times 2026
Why did the processing time go from 25 to 33 months in a single month?
The widening of eligibility under Bill C-3 (in force since December 15, 2025) has roughly tripled the number of pending applications, from about 40,000 to 136,000. IRCC revises its displayed times based on the actual volume of files to process.
Does this processing time apply to all citizenship applications?
No, this figure applies specifically to the citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship). Processing times for a standard citizenship application (naturalization) are separate and published separately by IRCC.
Can I speed up the processing of my application?
In certain specific situations (medical emergency, imminent travel, other exceptional circumstances), a request for urgent processing may be submitted to IRCC with the appropriate supporting documents. It is not automatic and must be well documented.
Is the caregiver program affected by the same problem?
Yes — in September 2026, IRCC published for the first time a consolidated processing time of 76 months for permanent residence for caregivers, with about 36,900 files pending.
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