Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a significant increase in the processing time for Canadian citizenship certificates, with new applicants now facing an estimated wait of 33 months for a decision. This figure, updated on September 3, 2026, marks a substantial jump from the 12-month estimate recorded just four months prior in May.
Processing Times Triple in Four Months
The latest data from IRCC reveals a dramatic surge in processing delays. The wait time for a Canadian citizenship certificate has risen by eight months since August, when the estimate stood at 25 months. This 32% increase in a single month highlights the growing backlog. Since May, the total increase in processing time has been 21 months, more than tripling the expected waiting period for applicants.
Currently, approximately 136,000 applications for citizenship certificates are awaiting a decision from IRCC, contributing to the extended delays.
Special Considerations for Overseas Applicants
Applicants residing outside of Canada and the United States should anticipate even longer waits. IRCC advises these individuals to add an additional 3 to 4 months to the estimated processing time to account for mailing periods, particularly if applying through a Canadian embassy, high commission, or consulate.
The processing clock for online applications begins upon submission, while for mailed applications, it starts once the complete package reaches IRCC's mailroom. Incomplete applications are subject to delays or may be returned, further prolonging the process.
Why the Delays?
IRCC updates its processing time estimates monthly, basing them on the volume of applications in its system, anticipated processing capacity, and the number of staff available. The department also considers Canada's Immigration Levels Plan, which dictates the number of newcomers the country aims to welcome annually, and how operational needs might shift its processing capabilities.
While IRCC states that an applicant's individual remaining wait time generally decreases as their application progresses, the published estimated processing time can still increase due to unforeseen circumstances, such as sharp increases in new applications or urgent changes in departmental priorities.
Specific Warnings for Certain Countries
IRCC has issued a separate warning regarding applications linked to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Uganda. Processing times for individuals whose last country of residence was one of these nations could be longer than the published estimates. Furthermore, foreign nationals living in these three countries are currently under temporary travel restrictions to Canada.
For anyone planning to apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate, these updated estimates underscore the importance of factoring in significantly longer processing periods, especially for those applying from abroad.