Less than a year after the Canadian Parliament extended citizenship recognition to those with Canadian lineage, there has been a significant surge in the backlog of citizenship certificate applications. Currently, over 136,000 applications are awaiting processing, with many originating from the United States. The waiting period for new applicants has reached an estimated 33 months, marking a 32% increase in processing time and an 11% rise in application numbers compared to the previous update in August.
Prior to the enactment of Bill C-3 in May 2025, the processing time for citizenship certificate applications was a mere five months. Christine Beltempo, chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s immigration section, expressed concerns over the substantial delays in processing times following the implementation of Bill C-3. Beltempo emphasized the urgent need for additional resources to handle the influx of applications, expecting the volume to further escalate in the coming year.
According to IRCC spokesperson Briannah Dale, the increase in processing times is influenced by various factors beyond just Bill C-3. The department is actively monitoring application trends and volumes, implementing operational measures to address the heightened demand, including prioritizing applications, improving intake processes, training additional staff, and refining workload management practices.
Under Bill C-3, individuals residing outside Canada who can trace their ancestry to Canadian forebears are now eligible for Canadian citizenship, irrespective of how many generations have passed since their Canadian ancestor left the country. The surge in applications post-Bill C-3 enactment has inundated Canada’s archives with requests for ancestral lineage documents, with a significant portion of the new citizens born in the United States.
While speculation on social media suggests older Americans are seeking Canadian citizenship for access to healthcare, statistics show that only a small percentage of certificates were granted to individuals over the age of 55. The majority of certificates were issued to applicants under the age of 14, possibly including babies born to Canadian parents abroad.
A citizenship certificate enables individuals to relocate to Canada and obtain a Canadian passport. However, it does not grant the right to vote in Canadian elections unless the individual has resided in Canada at some point in their life. Immigration lawyer Colin Singer warned that the growing backlog could lead to legal challenges and potential violations of rights.
NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan called on the government to allocate resources to address the escalating crisis and ensure timely processing of applications. Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner criticized the government for failing to manage the surge in citizenship applications effectively. She cautioned against mass approvals of the backlogged applications as a solution.
