Canada Extends Citizenship Proof Processing Time to 19 Months

The Canadian government has increased the processing time for proof of citizenship applications to 19 months, according to updated information released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The revised timeline takes immediate effect and applies to both new and existing applications. Officials attributed the delay to a significant rise in the number of applications, with the current backlog approaching 100,000 cases.

Despite the longer wait, the application process remains unchanged. Applicants must continue to submit their requests online or by mail, while eligibility requirements, supporting documents, and application fees remain the same.

The delay is expected to affect individuals who require proof of Canadian citizenship to obtain passports or access government services and benefits.

IRCC has advised applicants to monitor the status of their applications through its official online portal. The department also noted that applications involving people whose last country of residence was the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, or Uganda may experience additional delays because processing for those countries has been temporarily suspended.

The increase follows changes to Canada's citizenship-by-descent law introduced in December 2025, which expanded eligibility for people born abroad with Canadian ancestry. The policy change triggered a sharp rise in demand for citizenship certificates.

According to Canadian immigration reports citing IRCC data, the United States recorded the highest number of proof of citizenship applications after the new rules took effect. Nearly 2,500 applications were submitted by U.S. residents in January 2026 alone, far exceeding the figures from other countries.

Although Nigeria remains one of Canada's leading sources of permanent residents and international students, Canadian authorities have not released official figures on the number of Nigerians who have applied for proof of citizenship since the new rules came into force.

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