Immigration · IRCC processing times · Citizenship
Canadian citizenship processing times, by application.
IRCC’s forward-looking wait for citizenship programs, the queue behind each, and where an application from your month sits.
2 programs listed. 453,400 people are waiting across them (citizenship), as of IRCC’s October 9, 2026 update. Shortest wait for a new application: Citizenship grant (becoming a citizen), about 12 months. Longest: Proof of citizenship (certificate), about 34 months.
IRCC refreshes this monthly. Our copy fetched October 26, 2026.
Where am I in line?
Your place in the queue
Choose a program and the month you applied.
Citizenship: people waiting and current wait
For citizenship, IRCC publishes a first-in-line wait for citizenship grants and for proof of citizenship certificates, plus processing times for a handful of other citizenship requests.
| Program | People waiting | Wait for a new application |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship grant (becoming a citizen) | 322,700 | about 12 months |
| Proof of citizenship (certificate) | 130,700 | about 34 months |
The biggest queue is Citizenship grant (becoming a citizen) with about 322,700 people waiting.
Other citizenship requests
IRCC also publishes processing times for these citizenship requests (updated October 21, 2026).
| Request | IRCC processing time |
|---|---|
| Resumption of citizenship | Not enough data |
| Renunciation of citizenship | 4 months |
| Search of citizenship records | 19 months |
| Citizenship for adopted persons (part 1) | Part 1: 4 months |
Labels are plain-language names for IRCC’s own data categories; check the official tool for the exact application type.
History since October 20, 2026
Backlog history appears here once the recorder has a second observation.
IRCC publishes only the current figure and keeps no public history, so we record it ourselves. Our recording began October 20, 2026; a line appears once a value has changed, and a recorder feed is checked in your browser for a longer history when one exists.
How to read “people ahead of you”
“We calculate forward-looking processing times using: the total number of applications we already have to process for a given program; the number of applications we expect to process each month going forward… This means the amount of time you have left to wait will generally decrease, but can also increase.”IRCC, Check processing times, “How we calculate estimated (forward-looking) processing times” and “Why processing times change” (read October 26, 2026)
That is why two numbers can look odd together. A program can show tens of thousands of people waiting and a wait of a few months because IRCC finishes many applications a month; another can show a small queue and years of wait because it only finishes a few. The month calculator turns IRCC’s per-month table into one line: how many are ahead of an application received in your month, and how many months IRCC says are left. Older months showing “Less than 100 people ahead” are nearly at the front.
Where IRCC says it “needs more time to process” an application, the tool shows no months-left figure rather than guess.
Worked example
Take Citizenship grant (becoming a citizen). IRCC lists about 322,700 people waiting and a wait for a new application of about 12 months. For an application received in October 2026, IRCC’s per-month table shows 322,700 people ahead and about 12 months left. Across the 2 programs on this page 453,400 people are waiting in all, so one program’s queue is only part of the picture.
Common mix-ups
- Comparing a queue size with a wait. A large queue can clear quickly if IRCC finishes many applications a month, and a small one can last years if it finishes few.
- Expecting the months left to fall every month. IRCC says the time left will generally decrease but can also increase.
- Counting from the day you clicked submit. IRCC starts the clock when it has your complete application, so a missing document or unpaid fee pushes the start date back.
- Assuming Quebec and the rest of Canada share one line. IRCC publishes them separately where Quebec selects its own applicants.
Frequently asked questions
How long does citizenship take right now?
It depends on the program. IRCC’s current figures for new applications range from about 12 months (Citizenship grant (becoming a citizen)) to about 34 months (Proof of citizenship (certificate)). Pick your program in the table above.
What does “first in line” mean?
IRCC’s first-in-line figure is its estimate of how long a new application would wait before a decision, based on applications already in the queue and how many it expects to finish each month going forward. It is forward-looking, unlike the backward-looking 80% figure used for visas and permits.
How often does IRCC update these numbers?
IRCC labels this data monthly. The update behind this page is dated October 9, 2026 and we fetched it October 26, 2026.
Why is my place in line different from last month?
People ahead of you fall when IRCC finishes older applications and can rise if IRCC reallocates staff or cap space, or if the queue grows. IRCC says the time left “will generally decrease, but can also increase”. We record each update so the history here will show changes.
Can this tell me when I will get my decision?
No. It repeats IRCC’s estimate for the group of applications from your month. Individual applications can finish earlier or later, for example if more documents or checks are needed.
Is this the official IRCC tool?
No. TNAADO Tools is independent and not affiliated with IRCC. The official tool is Check processing times.
Sources and update path
IRCC first-in-line data updated October 9, 2026; fetched October 26, 2026. History recorded since October 20, 2026.
- IRCC, Check processing times (official tool and definitions)
- IRCC public data file behind the tool (first-in-line and people ahead)
- IRCC public data file (other processing times)
To refresh: node scripts/update-ircc-processing-times.mjs then node scripts/gen-ircc-pages.mjs. The page also checks m4tcsirs9vdfljls.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/ircc/history/<program>.json in the browser for longer history and uses it only if it parses.
Estimates, not decisions
These are IRCC’s published estimates, re-presented by TNAADO Tools, which is not affiliated with IRCC or the Government of Canada. No tool here can tell you when your own application will be decided, and nothing on this page is immigration advice. Always check your own case on IRCC’s official tool and your application status in your IRCC account.