Applicants seeking a proof-of-citizenship certificate—often required for Canadian children born abroad or for corporate assignees who need to confirm status before relocating—now face an average 19-month processing time, up from 15 months just one month ago. According to new IRCC figures published 8 July 2026, the inventory of certificates under review has ballooned to roughly 99,500 cases, a 40 % spike since May. Officials attribute the surge to Bill C-3, which expanded citizenship-by-descent eligibility in December 2025 and opened the door for an estimated 300,000 additional claimants worldwide. While Ottawa hired 150 new decision makers early this year, the department says training and security-screening requirements mean productivity gains will not materialise until late 2026.
![Wait for proof of Canadian citizenship stretches to 19 months as queue nears 100,000]()
Businesses and families looking for alternatives while they wait may find it practical to engage a specialist service such as VisaHQ, which can coordinate interim travel documents, visitor visas, and status verifications through its Canadian desk, streamlining paperwork and keeping relocations on schedule.
The backlog is more than an administrative inconvenience. Multinational companies planning intra-corporate transfers for employees’ children, or needing to prove Canadian nationality for tax and social-security purposes, must now factor in an 18-to-24-month lead time. Immigration lawyers note that an employee who cannot obtain the certificate before a posting may need to travel on a temporary Canadian passport or a visitor visa—adding compliance layers and cost. IRCC recommends that urgent cases request expedited processing through its web form, but approvals are granted only for documented emergencies such as medical travel. In the medium term, the department is piloting digital certificates to cut mailing delays and says it will re-evaluate staffing if the queue surpasses 120,000. Employers should audit upcoming relocations involving children born outside Canada and advise assignees to submit citizenship applications immediately, paying close attention to translations and long-form birth records to reduce the risk of refusals.
Businesses and families looking for alternatives while they wait may find it practical to engage a specialist service such as VisaHQ, which can coordinate interim travel documents, visitor visas, and status verifications through its Canadian desk, streamlining paperwork and keeping relocations on schedule.
The backlog is more than an administrative inconvenience. Multinational companies planning intra-corporate transfers for employees’ children, or needing to prove Canadian nationality for tax and social-security purposes, must now factor in an 18-to-24-month lead time. Immigration lawyers note that an employee who cannot obtain the certificate before a posting may need to travel on a temporary Canadian passport or a visitor visa—adding compliance layers and cost. IRCC recommends that urgent cases request expedited processing through its web form, but approvals are granted only for documented emergencies such as medical travel. In the medium term, the department is piloting digital certificates to cut mailing delays and says it will re-evaluate staffing if the queue surpasses 120,000. Employers should audit upcoming relocations involving children born outside Canada and advise assignees to submit citizenship applications immediately, paying close attention to translations and long-form birth records to reduce the risk of refusals.
