CANADA EXTENDS CITIZENSHIP PROOF PROCESSING TIME TO 19 MONTHS
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By; Sunmola Ganiyat
The Government of Canada has increased the processing time for proof of citizenship applications to 19 months, a move that takes immediate effect for both new and pending applications.
The update was published on the country’s immigration platform, indicating a significant increase from previous processing timelines, which had gradually lengthened over the past year.
According to reports, the longer wait period is largely driven by a growing backlog that is approaching 100,000 applications, reflecting increased demand for Canadian citizenship documentation.
Despite the delay, the application process itself remains unchanged, with applicants still required to submit requests online through official government channels or by mail. Eligibility requirements, supporting documents and application fees also remain the same.
The extended timeline means applicants may face longer waits before receiving proof of citizenship certificates, documents often required to obtain Canadian passports and access certain government services and benefits.
A review of information on the official Canadian immigration website confirmed the new 19-month processing period and advised applicants to monitor the status of their submissions online.
Canadian authorities also reiterated temporary travel restrictions affecting foreign nationals residing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan due to public health concerns. Applications linked to residents of those countries may experience additional delays.
The surge in applications follows amendments to Canada’s citizenship-by-descent legislation that took effect in December 2025. The changes expanded eligibility for individuals born abroad to Canadian parents or ancestors, prompting increased demand for citizenship certificates.
Immigration data cited by Canadian news outlet CIC News showed that the United States generated the highest number of proof of citizenship applications after the new rules came into force.
In January 2026 alone, nearly 2,500 applications were submitted from the U.S., far exceeding the figures recorded by other countries, including the United Kingdom.
While Nigerians continue to rank among Canada’s largest groups of permanent residents and international students, there are currently no official statistics showing how many Nigerians applied for proof of Canadian citizenship in 2025 or 2026. Nigeria has also not appeared among the leading source countries for citizenship proof applications published by Canadian authorities.
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