Canada has extended the processing period for proof of citizenship applications to 19 months, according to an update published on Thursday by the country’s immigration authorities.
The new timeline was announced on the official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website, with the revised processing period taking immediate effect for both pending and newly submitted applications.
IRCC.com, a platform that regularly reports on Canadian immigration matters but is not affiliated with the Canadian government, said the latest development reflects a significant increase in processing times compared to previous years.
“The platform although not affiliated with Canadian government but has always given information about Canada’s affairs was quoted as saying in its report that, ‘This development matters because it represents a significant increase from the previous processing times, which had been steadily rising over the past year.
Historically, the processing time for proof of citizenship had been much shorter, typically ranging from a few months to a year. The current backlog, which is nearing 100,000 applications, is a major factor contributing to the prolonged processing times. This surge in applications can be attributed to the growing demand for Canadian citizenship, driven by the country’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive society.
“The specific mechanics of the proof of citizenship application process remain unchanged, with applicants still required to submit their applications through the official government website or by mail.”’
The report added that the eligibility requirements, supporting documents and application fees have not changed despite the longer wait time.
However, applicants are now expected to wait significantly longer before receiving proof of citizenship, a delay that could affect access to certain government benefits and services.
Although Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada did not issue a formal statement on the increase, a check by our correspondent on the official Canada.ca website confirmed the updated 19-month processing timeline and advised applicants to monitor the status of their applications online.
The website also warned, “Foreign nationals living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Uganda are temporarily not permitted to travel to Canada.
“We aren’t finalizing applications from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan at this time. Because of this, your processing time may be longer than the times shown below if the last country of residence on your application was one of these countries.”
The longer processing period comes amid a surge in applications following amendments to Canada’s citizenship-by-descent law introduced in December 2025. are The changes expanded eligibility to more people born outside Canada with Canadian ancestry, resulting in increased demand for proof of citizenship certificates, which are required for obtaining Canadian passports.
Figures published by Canadian immigration news outlet CIC News, citing IRCC data, showed that the United States recorded the highest number of proof of citizenship applications after the new legislation took effect.
According to the report, nearly 2,500 applications were submitted by applicants in the United States in January 2026 alone—about 10 times more than the number received from the United Kingdom, the second-largest source country.
The volume of applications from the US also exceeded the combined total from the next nine leading countries.
There are currently no official statistics showing how many Nigerians applied for proof of Canadian citizenship in either 2025 or 2026. Although Nigeria remains one of Canada’s leading
source countries for permanent residents and international students, it has not been listed among the countries with the highest number of proof of citizenship applications released by Canadian authorities.