Proof of Canadian Citizenship Wait Time Balloons To 12 Months as Citizenship by Descent Applications Rise

This steep increase in processing times follows a change in citizenship rules. On December 15, 2025, Canada amended its Citizenship Act to remove the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent. Anyone born before that date who can trace an unbroken line of descent from a Canadian ancestor is now a Canadian citizen, regardless of how many generations have passed or whether their family ever lived in Canada. As a result, millions of Americans became Canadian citizens overnight.

Key Takeaways

• As of May 12, 2026, approximately 70,400 people are waiting for a proof of citizenship certificate decision, with a 12-month processing estimate for new applicants.
• If you are applying for proof of citizenship from outside Canada and the United States, add three to four months to account for mailing time.
• Proof of citizenship (confirming existing citizenship) and a citizenship grant (applying to become a citizen) are two different processes, each with its own queue and timeline.

How Fast the Proof of Citizenship Queue Has Grown

According to IRCC’s processing time update dated December 10 — five days before the Citizenship Act amendment took effect — 40,400 people were waiting for a decision. The estimated processing time for an application submitted then was nine months.

By May 12, 2026, that queue had grown to approximately 70,400 people. The wait is now 12 months. In the last month alone, over 14,000 new applicants joined the queue.

Between December 15, 2025, and January 31, 2026, IRCC received 12,430 citizenship by descent applications. Of these, 6,280 were processed and 1,480 were granted.

Archives across the country have reported sharp increases in requests for vital records, which are often needed to prove a line of descent from a Canadian ancestor. In January, Quebec’s Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) reported they had received 1,000 such requests, a whopping 3,000% increase over the 32 requests received in January 2025.

This surge in demand comes as no surprise. In the current immigration climate, with every other pathway shrinking, citizenship by descent offers a golden opportunity for many (especially given the political climate south of the border).

Before the bill became law, the government estimated that this provision would immediately add around 150,000 new Canadians. However, recent commentary from experts has suggested the real number might be in the millions.

But perhaps not everyone in the queue is a “Lost Canadian”. The IRCC website encourages applicants who don’t know if they are a Canadian citizen or not, to “apply for a citizenship certificate to find out for sure.” The low application fee of $75 means that even those with weak ties to Canada want to try their luck.

Proof of Citizenship vs. Citizenship Grant

A proof of citizenship application is not the same as a grant of citizenship application.

A citizenship grant is for people who are not yet Canadian citizens and are applying to become one through the standard naturalization process. As of May 12, 2026, these applications have an estimated processing time of 13 months, with 321,100 people waiting for a decision.

A proof of Canadian citizenship application is for people who are already citizens under Canadian law but need official documentation of that status (that is, a citizenship certificate). This applies to people born in Canada (although a Canadian birth certificate is usually enough), Canadians who became citizens by birth abroad to a Canadian parent, and now, under the amended Citizenship Act, anyone who qualifies by descent regardless of how far back that connection goes. The certificate is what you need to apply for a Canadian passport.

If you think you qualify by descent, you are applying for proof of citizenship, not a grant.

What to Expect If You’re Applying for Proof of Citizenship Now

If you’re applying for a Canadian citizenship certificate today, expect a processing time of at least 12 months. As of May 12, 2026, around 70,700 people were waiting for a decision on their proof of citizenship application.

IRCC advises applicants applying from outside Canada or the U.S., through a Canadian embassy, high commission, or consulate, to account for an additional three to four months of mailing time.

That 12-month estimate is forward-looking and is updated monthly. IRCC calculates it based on how many applications are currently in the queue, how many staff are available to process them, and how many new applications the department expects to receive.

Generally, your remaining wait time will decrease as your application moves through the queue. But if application volumes rise sharply, as they have since December 2025, the estimate can increase. IRCC notes that its projections do not account for sudden surges in intake, urgent shifts in priorities, or other unforeseen operational changes.

Your processing time begins the day IRCC receives your complete application. If you apply online, that is the day you submit. If you apply by mail, it is the day your application arrives at the mailroom. An incomplete application will be delayed or returned, which resets the clock.

You can track processing time remaining based on your application date using IRCC’s processing times tool.

Putting It in Perspective

Understandably, seeing your wait period increase can be frustrating. But not everyone tracking the queue is panicking about the timeline. Among the communities following this process closely online, some are choosing to focus on the brand-new opportunity instead. The December 2025 law created a path to citizenship for people who previously had none. And the queue reflects how many people were interested in taking advantage of it.

Comment
byu/Individual-Habit5581 from discussion
inCanadiancitizenship

Others are already adopting the Canadian way as they wait patiently in line:

Comment
byu/Individual-Habit5581 from discussion
inCanadiancitizenship

FAQs About Citizenship by Descent

Can I hold dual Canadian and U.S. citizenship?

Yes. Canada and the United States both recognize dual citizenship. Becoming a Canadian citizen does not affect your U.S. citizenship, and holding a Canadian citizenship certificate creates no new tax obligations. Unlike the U.S., Canada taxes based on residency, not citizenship. You would only become subject to Canadian income tax if you moved to Canada and became a tax resident there.

Do I need to move to Canada to claim citizenship by descent?

No. If you qualify for Canadian citizenship by descent under the amended Citizenship Act, you are already a citizen. Applying for a proof of citizenship certificate is simply the process of getting official documentation of a status you already hold. You do not need to live in Canada, intend to move, or give up your current citizenship to apply.

However, if you want to sponsor a spouse or partner for Canadian permanent residence after receiving your proof of citizenship, you would need to show an intention to live in Canada.