Just five months after Canada removed the so-called first-generation limit on citizenship by descent, the fallout is becoming clear: processing times for a proof-of-citizenship certificate have stretched to 12 months, according to data obtained by independent outlet Mogaz on May 17. More than 14,000 new applications—predominantly from U.S. nationals—were filed in the past 30 days alone as dual-passport seekers race to secure Canadian status. The surge traces back to Bill C-3, which amended the Citizenship Act on 15 December 2025. Anyone born before that date who can show an unbroken line of descent from a Canadian parent or grandparent is now eligible to claim citizenship, even if the Canadian ancestor had himself or herself been born abroad. Immigration lawyers predicted interest from the large Canadian diaspora in the United States, but the volume has exceeded IRCC’s forecasts, further straining back-office capacity already burdened by pandemic-era backlogs. For applicants, the bottleneck has immediate implications. A proof-of-citizenship certificate is required before an adult can apply for a Canadian passport, complicating summer-travel plans and cross-border work assignments. Some U.S. executives pursuing Canadian projects report delaying intra-company transfers because the certificate queue is now longer than a standard work-permit process. Corporations with North American mobility programmes should therefore revisit timelines and consider alternative routes—such as CUSMA professional work permits or Labour-Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)–exempt pathways—while employees wait for their citizenship papers. Meanwhile, talent acquisition teams may find recruitment easier, as a Canadian passport offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 182 countries and no worldwide taxation—powerful perks in a globally mobile workforce. Ottawa has not yet announced emergency triage measures, but stakeholders expect IRCC to redeploy officers from lower-volume streams or open temporary processing centres, similar to the tactics used during the 2021 passport surge. Until then, employers should prepare for year-long waits and advise staff to secure certified copies of birth and marriage records early in the process to avoid additional delays.
Source: Mogaz News
