Bill C-3 made many people born abroad Canadian citizens overnight. To prove it, they need a citizenship certificate, and demand has overwhelmed the system. In 2026, IRCC’s posted processing time for citizenship certificates went from 10 months in March to close to three years by the fall. If you need proof of citizenship for a passport, a job or a family decision, that timeline is a real problem.
First, what the delay does not change
If you are a citizen under the new rules, you are a citizen whether or not you have a certificate yet. The certificate confirms status you already have. It does not create it. The delay is about proof, not status. Our post on citizenship by descent after Bill C-3 explains who qualifies.
In practice, though, proof matters. Without a certificate you generally cannot get a Canadian passport, and travel, work and access to services can be affected.
Why applications stall
Some delay is simply volume. But a large share of long waits come from problems in the application itself:
- missing documents for one link in the family chain, such as a grandparent’s birth record
- names that are spelled differently across countries and records
- documents that are not translated, or not translated properly
- adoption records that do not meet Canadian requirements
- unanswered requests for more information
Each of these can move a file to the back of a long queue. The single most useful thing you can do is file a complete, well-organized application and respond immediately to any request.
Ask for urgent processing where it applies
IRCC can prioritize some proof of citizenship applications where there is a documented, time-sensitive need, for example a job or benefit that requires proof of citizenship, or urgent travel because of a death or serious illness in the family. Urgent processing is discretionary and needs evidence: a letter from the employer, a medical letter, or other documentation of the deadline. A general wish to travel sooner is not enough.
Order your GCMS notes
Your GCMS notes show where the file actually stands: whether it has been assigned, what has been reviewed, and whether anything is outstanding. Our post on GCMS notes explains how to request them. If the notes reveal a missing document or an unanswered request, fixing it will do more than any enquiry.
When mandamus becomes an option
If the application is complete, nothing is outstanding on your side, and the file has been sitting well beyond IRCC’s service standard, a writ of mandamus from the Federal Court may be available. Our post on mandamus explains the test.
One point is worth noting for citizenship files. Proof of citizenship applications are not subject to the annual permanent resident targets in the Immigration Levels Plan, so the “waiting for admissions space” explanation that IRCC gives for some permanent residence delays does not apply to them. Our post on the levels-plan waitlist explains that issue.
IRCC may still point to the volume of applications as a reason for delay. Whether that is a satisfactory justification depends on how long the file has waited and what the record shows.
Plan around the delay
- Do not make fixed travel plans around an estimated processing date.
- Keep copies of everything filed, including proof of delivery.
- Update IRCC if your address, name or contact details change.
- If you have children born abroad after December 15, 2025, start gathering evidence of your own time in Canada now, since the new substantial connection test may apply to them. Our post on the physical presence requirement covers the kind of records that help.
How we can help
At Kabir & Alam, we prepare proof of citizenship applications, fix the document problems that cause delay, request urgent processing where it applies, and bring mandamus applications when files stall. Read more about our citizenship applications practice or book a consultation with us.
This post is general information about Canadian immigration law and is not legal advice. Every case turns on its own facts. Speak with a lawyer about your situation before making decisions.