Citizenship
Citizenship Proofs Processing Time
About 130,700 people waiting · IRCC data as of October 9, 2026
A proof of citizenship — the citizenship certificate — is the official document confirming someone is already a Canadian citizen. It is commonly needed by children born abroad to Canadian parents and by citizens replacing a lost certificate or applying for a first passport.
This page tracks IRCC's published processing time for citizenship certificate (proof) applications.
Processing Time History
| Date | Processing Time (months) |
|---|---|
| October 9, 2025 | 8 |
| November 6, 2025 | 9 |
| December 9, 2025 | 9 |
| January 14, 2026 | 10 |
| February 12, 2026 | 11 |
| March 9, 2026 | 10 |
| April 7, 2026 | 10 |
| May 12, 2026 | 12 |
| June 8, 2026 | 15 |
| July 7, 2026 | 19 |
| August 10, 2026 | 25 |
| September 3, 2026 | 33 |
| October 9, 2026 | 34 |
People Ahead by Application Month
IRCC also publishes how many applications submitted in each month are still ahead of you in the Citizenship Proofs queue.
| Month | People Ahead |
|---|---|
| 2024/11 | 1200 |
| 2024/12 | 1300 |
| 2025/01 | 1600 |
| 2025/02 | 2100 |
| 2025/03 | 3300 |
| 2025/04 | 4700 |
| 2025/05 | 6300 |
| 2025/06 | 7800 |
| 2025/07 | 9300 |
| 2025/08 | 11500 |
| 2025/09 | 14000 |
| 2025/10 | 16700 |
| 2025/11 | 19300 |
| 2025/12 | 21800 |
| 2026/01 | 23700 |
| 2026/02 | 26800 |
| 2026/03 | 31100 |
| 2026/04 | 38500 |
| 2026/05 | 49300 |
| 2026/06 | 64000 |
| 2026/07 | 116100 |
| 2026/08 | 126800 |
| 2026/09 | 128700 |
| 2026/10 | 130700 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Citizenship Proofs take right now?
As of October 9, 2026, IRCC reports a processing time of about 34 months for Citizenship Proofs applications, with about 130,700 people waiting.
Who needs a citizenship certificate?
People born outside Canada to a Canadian parent who want official confirmation of their citizenship, citizens replacing a lost or damaged certificate, and anyone needing proof of citizenship for a passport application or government service.
Is a citizenship certificate the same as a passport?
No. The certificate proves citizenship status; it is not a travel document. You typically need the certificate first, then use it as the proof-of-citizenship document in a Canadian passport application.