Citizenship
Citizenship Grants Processing Time
About 322,700 people waiting · IRCC data as of October 9, 2026
A citizenship grant is the process by which permanent residents become Canadian citizens — the application, physical-presence review, knowledge test, and finally the citizenship ceremony and oath.
This page tracks IRCC's published processing time for citizenship grant applications from submission to ceremony, along with the historical trend.
Processing Time History
| Date | Processing Time (months) |
|---|---|
| October 9, 2025 | 13 |
| November 6, 2025 | 13 |
| December 9, 2025 | 13 |
| January 14, 2026 | 13 |
| February 12, 2026 | 14 |
| March 9, 2026 | 13 |
| April 7, 2026 | 12 |
| May 12, 2026 | 13 |
| June 8, 2026 | 13 |
| July 7, 2026 | 12 |
| August 10, 2026 | 12 |
| September 3, 2026 | 12 |
| October 9, 2026 | 12 |
People Ahead by Application Month
IRCC also publishes how many applications submitted in each month are still ahead of you in the Citizenship Grants queue.
| Month | People Ahead |
|---|---|
| 2024/11 | 22000 |
| 2024/12 | 24200 |
| 2025/01 | 26700 |
| 2025/02 | 29600 |
| 2025/03 | 32300 |
| 2025/04 | 35400 |
| 2025/05 | 37700 |
| 2025/06 | 40900 |
| 2025/07 | 43800 |
| 2025/08 | 47200 |
| 2025/09 | 50600 |
| 2025/10 | 54400 |
| 2025/11 | 59200 |
| 2025/12 | 64800 |
| 2026/01 | 71500 |
| 2026/02 | 81700 |
| 2026/03 | 99300 |
| 2026/04 | 126600 |
| 2026/05 | 153300 |
| 2026/06 | 180900 |
| 2026/07 | 207100 |
| 2026/08 | 301300 |
| 2026/09 | 322600 |
| 2026/10 | 322700 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Citizenship Grants take right now?
As of October 9, 2026, IRCC reports a processing time of about 12 months for Citizenship Grants applications, with about 322,700 people waiting.
What are the requirements for Canadian citizenship?
Permanent residents need 1,095 days (three years) of physical presence in Canada within the five years before applying, any required tax filings, and — for applicants aged 18 to 54 — passing the citizenship knowledge test and demonstrating language ability in English or French.
What are the stages after applying for citizenship?
IRCC confirms the application is complete, then invites you to the knowledge test, reviews physical presence and prohibitions, and finally schedules the oath ceremony — citizenship is legally granted only when you take the oath.