Proof-of-citizenship wait reaches about 33 months as the queue passes 136,000
The processing time for a new proof-of-citizenship certificate has risen to about 33 months, according to a September report, and the number of people waiting has grown from about 22,900 last December to about 136,000. The cause is Bill C-3, which opened citizenship by descent to more people born abroad. IRCC also paused finalizing some descent applications while it reviewed roughly 6,500 certificates already issued, a review it said ended June 30. CBC reported on Monday that delays are hitting Canadians born abroad.
A certificate is the document that proves you are a citizen. Without it people cannot easily get a passport, and families plan around it.
If you applied, check the IRCC tool and ask about urgent processing if you need proof for school, work or an emergency.
This is a backlog created by a policy change. Watch the IRCC monthly processing-time figure for the first sign of it turning.
DailyDrop Canada edition No. 1 · Morning · MON., OCT. 5, 2026