Wait Times Reach Record Levels
From March to August 2026, processing times increased by 22 months in just five and a half months. From May (12 months) to July (19 months) to August (25 months), the rate of increase has doubled in a single quarter.
The current queue holds approximately 121,800 applications, with 22,300 added between July and August alone. This is the first time the queue has exceeded 100,000 applications.
Root Cause: Law Expanding Descent-Based Citizenship
On December 15, 2025, Canada eliminated the first-generation limit, allowing anyone with continuous Canadian descent from an ancestor born in Canada to apply for citizenship, regardless of how many generations removed.
This rule opens doors to millions of Americans with Canadian ancestry, particularly in New England, where hundreds of thousands of French Canadians migrated between 1840 and 1930.
Result: The queue grew by approximately 22,300 applications between July and August alone, representing 22% growth.
Additional Issue: Secondary Reviews of Existing Applications
In June 2026, IRCC contacted some applicants in the United States who had recently received citizenship certificates to conduct secondary reviews of their information and documentation. At that time, IRCC temporarily suspended processing of new applications to prioritize reviews of already-issued certificates. The review concluded on June 30, 2026, and processing resumed.
However, June processing was significantly delayed, with IRCC completing only 3,040 applications while the queue grew from 82,020 (end of May) to 99,520 (end of June).
Should You Apply Now or Wait?
The processing clock starts when IRCC receives your complete application, so waiting only extends your total wait time. Since the queue has grown each month in 2026, applications submitted later will face longer processing times.
A person born outside Canada to a Canadian parent before December 15, 2025, and falling under the new rules is already a citizen by law—the certificate simply confirms your current status.
Important Precautions
Incomplete applications will be returned, requiring you to resubmit from scratch. Wait time is calculated from when IRCC receives your application, not when you initially submit it. If your application is returned, you lose additional months correcting and resubmitting, then rejoin the queue from the beginning.
Additionally, IRCC may select your application for secondary review after issuing your certificate, which could extend the process by several additional months.