Canada Visa Wait

Citizenship

Canadian citizenship processing time

How long it takes to become a Canadian citizen, and to get proof of citizenship, by IRCC's latest estimates.

Citizenship grant: estimated wait for a new application

about12 months

● About the same as in July

IRCC estimate, update of October 9, 2026. Check IRCC's tool

Already waiting

about 322,700 people

● About the same as in July

If you apply today

A new application sent today would be decided around October 2027, if IRCC's estimate holds.

Already applied?

Choose the month you applied. IRCC estimates how many people are ahead of you and how much time is left.

People ahead of you–
Time left–
See every month in a table
Applied inPeople ahead of youTime left
October 2026about 322,70012 months left
September 2026about 322,60012 months left
August 2026about 301,30011 months left
July 2026about 207,1008 months left
June 2026about 180,9007 months left
May 2026about 153,3006 months left
April 2026about 126,6005 months left
March 2026about 99,3004 months left
February 2026about 81,7003 months left
January 2026about 71,5003 months left
December 2025about 64,8002 months left
November 2025about 59,2002 months left
October 2025about 54,4002 months left
September 2025about 50,6002 months left
August 2025about 47,2002 months left
July 2025about 43,8002 months left
June 2025about 40,9001 month left
May 2025about 37,7001 month left
April 2025about 35,400IRCC says it needs more time
March 2025about 32,300IRCC says it needs more time
February 2025about 29,600IRCC says it needs more time
January 2025about 26,700IRCC says it needs more time
December 2024about 24,200IRCC says it needs more time
November 2024about 22,000IRCC says it needs more time
October 2024about 19,500IRCC says it needs more time
September 2024about 17,500IRCC says it needs more time
August 2024about 15,600IRCC says it needs more time
July 2024about 13,800IRCC says it needs more time
June 2024about 12,200IRCC says it needs more time
May 2024about 10,300IRCC says it needs more time
April 2024about 8,500IRCC says it needs more time
March 2024about 6,800IRCC says it needs more time
February 2024about 6,000IRCC says it needs more time
January 2024about 5,500IRCC says it needs more time
December 2023about 4,800IRCC says it needs more time
November 2023about 4,400IRCC says it needs more time
October 2023about 4,000IRCC says it needs more time
September 2023about 3,700IRCC says it needs more time
August 2023about 3,500IRCC says it needs more time
July 2023about 3,200IRCC says it needs more time
June 2023about 2,900IRCC says it needs more time
May 2023about 2,700IRCC says it needs more time
April 2023about 2,600IRCC says it needs more time
March 2023about 2,300IRCC says it needs more time
February 2023about 2,100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2023about 2,000IRCC says it needs more time
December 2022about 1,900IRCC says it needs more time
November 2022about 1,800IRCC says it needs more time
October 2022about 1,600IRCC says it needs more time
September 2022about 1,500IRCC says it needs more time
August 2022about 1,400IRCC says it needs more time
July 2022about 1,400IRCC says it needs more time
June 2022about 1,300IRCC says it needs more time
May 2022about 1,200IRCC says it needs more time
April 2022about 1,200IRCC says it needs more time
March 2022about 1,100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2022about 1,100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2022about 1,000IRCC says it needs more time
December 2021about 1,000IRCC says it needs more time
November 2021about 1,000IRCC says it needs more time
October 2021about 900IRCC says it needs more time
September 2021about 900IRCC says it needs more time
August 2021about 900IRCC says it needs more time
July 2021about 900IRCC says it needs more time
June 2021about 800IRCC says it needs more time
May 2021about 800IRCC says it needs more time
April 2021about 800IRCC says it needs more time
March 2021about 700IRCC says it needs more time
February 2021about 700IRCC says it needs more time
January 2021about 700IRCC says it needs more time
December 2020about 700IRCC says it needs more time
November 2020about 700IRCC says it needs more time
October 2020about 600IRCC says it needs more time
September 2020about 600IRCC says it needs more time
August 2020about 600IRCC says it needs more time
July 2020about 600IRCC says it needs more time
June 2020about 600IRCC says it needs more time
May 2020about 500IRCC says it needs more time
April 2020about 500IRCC says it needs more time
March 2020about 500IRCC says it needs more time
February 2020about 500IRCC says it needs more time
January 2020about 500IRCC says it needs more time
December 2019about 500IRCC says it needs more time
November 2019about 500IRCC says it needs more time
October 2019about 400IRCC says it needs more time
September 2019about 400IRCC says it needs more time
August 2019about 400IRCC says it needs more time
July 2019about 400IRCC says it needs more time
June 2019about 300IRCC says it needs more time
May 2019about 300IRCC says it needs more time
April 2019about 300IRCC says it needs more time
March 2019about 300IRCC says it needs more time
February 2019about 300IRCC says it needs more time
January 2019about 200IRCC says it needs more time
December 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
November 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
October 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
September 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
August 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
July 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
June 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
May 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
April 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
March 2018about 200IRCC says it needs more time
February 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2018about 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2017about 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2017about 100no estimate
March 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2017about 100no estimate
December 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2016about 100no estimate
August 2016about 100no estimate
July 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2016about 100no estimate
May 2016about 100no estimate
April 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2016about 100no estimate
February 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2016about 100no estimate
November 2015fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2015fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2015fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2015fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2015fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2015fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2015fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2014fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2014fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2014fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2014fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2014fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2014fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2013fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2013fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2013fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2013fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2012fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2012fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2012fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2012fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2011fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2011fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2011fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2011fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2011fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2011fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2011fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2011fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2010fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2010fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2010fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2009fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2009fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2008fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2008fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2006fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time

Citizenship certificate

A certificate that proves you are already a Canadian citizen, for example by birth abroad to a Canadian parent.

Citizenship certificate: estimated wait for a new application

about34 months

▲ 15 months longer than in July

IRCC estimate, update of October 9, 2026. Check IRCC's tool

Already waiting

about 130,700 people

▲ 31,200 more waiting than in July

If you apply today

A new application sent today would be decided around August 2029, if IRCC's estimate holds.

Already applied?

Choose the month you applied. IRCC estimates how many people are ahead of you and how much time is left.

People ahead of you–
Time left–
See every month in a table
Applied inPeople ahead of youTime left
October 2026about 130,70034 months left
September 2026about 128,70034 months left
August 2026about 126,80033 months left
July 2026about 116,10030 months left
June 2026about 64,00017 months left
May 2026about 49,30013 months left
April 2026about 38,50010 months left
March 2026about 31,1008 months left
February 2026about 26,8007 months left
January 2026about 23,7006 months left
December 2025about 21,8006 months left
November 2025about 19,3005 months left
October 2025about 16,7004 months left
September 2025about 14,0004 months left
August 2025about 11,5003 months left
July 2025about 9,3002 months left
June 2025about 7,8002 months left
May 2025about 6,3002 months left
April 2025about 4,7001 month left
March 2025about 3,3001 month left
February 2025about 2,1001 month left
January 2025about 1,600IRCC says it needs more time
December 2024about 1,300IRCC says it needs more time
November 2024about 1,200IRCC says it needs more time
October 2024about 1,100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2024about 1,000IRCC says it needs more time
August 2024about 900IRCC says it needs more time
July 2024about 900IRCC says it needs more time
June 2024about 800IRCC says it needs more time
May 2024about 700IRCC says it needs more time
April 2024about 700IRCC says it needs more time
March 2024about 600IRCC says it needs more time
February 2024about 600IRCC says it needs more time
January 2024about 600IRCC says it needs more time
December 2023about 500IRCC says it needs more time
November 2023about 500IRCC says it needs more time
October 2023about 500IRCC says it needs more time
September 2023about 400IRCC says it needs more time
August 2023about 400IRCC says it needs more time
July 2023about 400IRCC says it needs more time
June 2023about 300IRCC says it needs more time
May 2023about 300IRCC says it needs more time
April 2023about 300IRCC says it needs more time
March 2023about 300IRCC says it needs more time
February 2023about 300IRCC says it needs more time
January 2023about 200IRCC says it needs more time
December 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
November 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
October 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
September 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
August 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
July 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
June 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
May 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
April 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
March 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
February 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
January 2022about 200IRCC says it needs more time
December 2021about 200IRCC says it needs more time
November 2021about 200IRCC says it needs more time
October 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2021about 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2020about 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2020fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
March 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2019fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
December 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2018fewer than 100no estimate
October 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
September 2018fewer than 100no estimate
August 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
May 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
April 2018fewer than 100no estimate
March 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
February 2018fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2018fewer than 100no estimate
December 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
November 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
October 2017fewer than 100no estimate
September 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
August 2017fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2017fewer than 100no estimate
June 2017fewer than 100no estimate
May 2017fewer than 100no estimate
April 2017fewer than 100no estimate
March 2017fewer than 100no estimate
February 2017fewer than 100no estimate
January 2017fewer than 100no estimate
December 2016fewer than 100no estimate
November 2016fewer than 100no estimate
October 2016fewer than 100no estimate
September 2016fewer than 100no estimate
August 2016fewer than 100no estimate
July 2016fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2016fewer than 100no estimate
May 2016fewer than 100no estimate
April 2016fewer than 100no estimate
March 2016fewer than 100no estimate
February 2016fewer than 100no estimate
January 2016fewer than 100no estimate
February 2015fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2014fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
January 2007fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
July 2006fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time
June 2006fewer than 100IRCC says it needs more time

Other citizenship applications

For these, IRCC's figure is how long it took to decide 8 in 10 recent applications.

Resuming Canadian citizenshipNo current figure
Renouncing Canadian citizenship4 months▼ 2 months shorter
Search of citizenship records19 months▲ 2 months longer
Citizenship for a child adopted abroad (part 1)4 months● Steady

How the estimates have changed

Each point is an IRCC update.

What do these estimates mean?

1

It looks ahead

IRCC estimates how long a new application would take, based on how many people are already waiting and how many decisions it plans to make.

2

“Waiting” is IRCC's own count

The number of people waiting is IRCC's rounded count of applications in the queue.

3

Already applied?

IRCC also estimates how many people are ahead of you and how much time is left, by when you applied.

Common questions

How long does it take to become a Canadian citizen?

IRCC estimates about 12 months for a new citizenship application (update of October 9, 2026). about 322,700 people are already waiting.

How long does a citizenship certificate take?

IRCC estimates about 34 months for a new application.

I already applied for citizenship. How long is left?

IRCC estimates how many people are ahead of you and how much time is left, by the month you applied. Choose your month in the “Already applied?” box above.

Is this an official government website?

No. Canada Visa Wait is an independent site and is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. The figures are IRCC's own. Before you rely on a date, check IRCC's official processing-times tool.

All published figures

Citizenship grant

Every published estimate
IRCC updateFigureChange
July 7, 2026about 12 months−1 month
May 12, 2026about 13 months+1 month
April 7, 2026about 12 months−1 month
March 9, 2026about 13 months−1 month
February 12, 2026about 14 months+1 month
October 9, 2025about 13 monthsfirst figure
Every published count of people waiting
IRCC updateFigureChange
October 9, 2026about 322,700−4,400
September 3, 2026about 327,100−1,100
August 10, 2026about 328,200+2,000
July 7, 2026about 326,200−200
June 8, 2026about 326,400+5,300
May 12, 2026about 321,100+7,900
April 7, 2026about 313,200−7,100
March 9, 2026about 320,300+7,300
February 12, 2026about 313,000+7,600
January 14, 2026about 305,400+8,400
December 9, 2025about 297,000+6,300
November 6, 2025about 290,700+7,000
October 9, 2025about 283,700–

Citizenship certificate

Every published estimate
IRCC updateFigureChange
October 9, 2026about 34 months+1 month
September 3, 2026about 33 months+8 months
August 10, 2026about 25 months+6 months
July 7, 2026about 19 months+4 months
June 8, 2026about 15 months+3 months
May 12, 2026about 12 months+2 months
March 9, 2026about 10 months−1 month
February 12, 2026about 11 months+1 month
January 14, 2026about 10 months+1 month
November 6, 2025about 9 months+1 month
October 9, 2025about 8 monthsfirst figure
Every published count of people waiting
IRCC updateFigureChange
October 9, 2026about 130,700−5,300
September 3, 2026about 136,000+14,200
August 10, 2026about 121,800+22,300
July 7, 2026about 99,500+17,500
June 8, 2026about 82,000+11,600
May 12, 2026about 70,400+14,100
April 7, 2026about 56,300+5,400
March 9, 2026about 50,900+3,000
February 12, 2026about 47,900+5,500
January 14, 2026about 42,400+2,000
December 9, 2025about 40,400+1,400
November 6, 2025about 39,000+3,600
October 9, 2025about 35,400–

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