Maple News reports that the wait for a decision on proof of Canadian citizenship applications has climbed to 99,500 as of July 7, with the estimated processing time stretching to 19 months. The spike represents an increase of about 17,500 applicants in roughly one month, underscoring a rapidly expanding backlog.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses a forward-looking method to calculate these times, taking into account the number of applications already in the queue, available staff, and anticipated volumes in the coming months. The current figure follows a year of growing demand after Canada broadened citizenship-by-descent eligibility in December 2025.
Earlier in May, the queue stood at 70,400 applications with a 12-month wait, then rose to 82,000 in June and a 15-month wait. The latest jump to 19 months reflects not only higher volumes but also disruptions tied to a focused review of certain certificates issued under Bill C-3.
In June, IRCC paused finalizing new citizenship-by-descent approvals while it reviewed roughly 6,500 certificates issued under Bill C-3 to verify the supporting documentation. Of the certificates reviewed, 100 were flagged for potential gaps. Thirty-three were reinstated after verifying the underlying evidence, while 67 remain unresolved, representing about one percent of affected certificates. IRCC expects those cases to be resolved or reinstated within days, and the agency said that processing for paused applications should resume soon.
The backlog is also driven by the policy shift itself. On December 15, 2025, Canada removed the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent for those born before that date, expanding eligibility to anyone who can trace an unbroken line to a Canadian ancestor. This change has opened eligibility to millions of Americans and others, contributing to the surge in applications. The category of those affected includes many in regions with historically large Canadian-ancestry communities, such as New England.
For applicants who are considering when to apply, the message from IRCC is clear: those who submit now should anticipate a long wait, with decisions likely arriving around February 2028. IRCC updated its guidance in June on proof-of-descent documentation, noting that documents establishing a line of descent must come from the original source authority. Applicants should align their submissions with this guidance to avoid delays.
IRCC’s wait-time estimates continue to evolve month to month, reflecting both changing volumes and operational considerations. As the queue nears the 100,000 mark, Maple News will continue to monitor developments and provide practical guidance for prospective applicants navigating Canada’s citizenship-by-descent process.