Citizenship certificate backlog swells to 136,000, creating 33-month wait times
Applications for Canadian citizenship certificates have surged, leaving a backlog of over 136,000 and an estimated 33-month processing time.
Less than a year after Parliament enacted Bill C-3, which allows descendants of Canadian ancestors to claim citizenship, the number of pending citizenship certificate applications has climbed to more than 136,000, pushing the average processing time to about 33 months—a 32% increase since the last update. The surge is largely fueled by Americans, who now make up half of the recognitions under the new law. IRCC attributes the slowdown to higher volumes and complex documentation, and says it is hiring additional staff, improving intake and workload management.
Immigration lawyers warn the delays may violate the Charter and could lead to court actions, while political critics argue the government’s planned staff cuts exacerbate the crisis. The backlog affects travel, study, work and family plans for applicants across age groups.
