Canada citizenship certificate backlog exceeds 136,000

Canada is facing a significant backlog in citizenship certificate applications, with over 136,000 requests currently awaiting decisions. Following the implementation of Bill C-3, which expanded citizenship by descent rights, estimated processing times have surged to approximately 33 months. This represents a 32 percent increase in wait times compared to previous data.

Data indicates that a substantial portion of these applications originate from the United States. While some have speculated that older Americans are applying to access Canadian healthcare, current statistics show that the largest group of applicants are children under the age of 14, totaling 16,435 certificates.

Legal experts have expressed concern over the “exponential increase” in processing times, suggesting that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) needs to allocate more resources and staff to address the volume. IRCC has stated that the surge is not solely due to Bill C-3, citing the complexity of many applications and the need for extensive documentation. The department is currently implementing measures such as application triaging, enhanced intake processes, and additional staff training to manage the workload.