Canada has increased the estimated processing time for new applications for proof of citizenship to 34 months in October 2026, according to the latest figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The department updated its processing times, adding one month to the September estimate of 33 months. However, the increase was smaller than those recorded in previous months, when waiting times rose sharply. At the same time, the number of applicants awaiting a decision fell to 130,700 in October, down from 136,000 in September. This marks the first monthly decline in the queue since Canada expanded its citizenship-by-descent rules in December 2025.
