Quick Answer
If you were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent, or recently gained citizenship through Canada’s 2025 law changes, you likely need a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship) before you can get a Canadian passport. As of June 2026, processing has spiked dramatically — citizenship certificate wait times jumped to around 15 months, with the queue growing by over 11,600 in a single cycle. If you need one, apply now and do not book travel around it.
Citizenship Certificate vs. Citizenship Grant: Know the Difference
| Citizenship certificate (proof) | Citizenship grant (application) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who needs it | People who are already citizens (by birth abroad to a Canadian parent, or by law) and need proof | Permanent residents applying to become citizens |
| What it proves | That you are already a Canadian citizen | Grants citizenship you did not previously have |
| Current processing (June 2026) | ~15 months | ~13 months |
| Triggers a passport eligibility | Yes — required before first passport | Yes, after the ceremony |
Why the Backlog Exploded
Two forces collided in 2025–2026. First, Bill C-3 (the Citizenship Act amendments) came into force on December 15, 2025, correcting the “second generation cut-off” and extending citizenship by descent to more people born abroad. Second, a wave of Americans and others with Canadian parentage discovered they qualified and applied for proof of citizenship at once. The result: the proof-of-citizenship queue grew by roughly 11,600 in a single reporting cycle to around 82,000 people, pushing processing to about 15 months.
This guide explains the general process. It is not legal advice. Citizenship-by-descent eligibility after the 2025 law changes can be genuinely complicated — especially across multiple generations born abroad. If you are unsure whether you qualify, a consultation with a Canadian citizenship lawyer is worth it before you apply, because a wrong application wastes 15 months.
Who Needs a Citizenship Certificate
- You were born outside Canada to a Canadian citizen parent and have never had proof of your own citizenship
- You gained citizenship through the Bill C-3 changes and want documentation
- You need to apply for your first Canadian passport and have no proof of citizenship
- You lost your original certificate and need a replacement
- You are sponsoring or registering a child born abroad
How to Apply
- Confirm your eligibility. Use IRCC’s tools to check whether you are a citizen by descent under the current rules — including the post-Bill C-3 framework.
- Gather documents: your foreign birth certificate, your Canadian parent’s proof of citizenship (their certificate, Canadian birth certificate, or passport), parents’ marriage certificate if relevant, and identity documents.
- Complete the application for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship) through IRCC.
- Pay the fee ($75 for proof of citizenship).
- Submit and wait. Expect roughly 15 months at current processing levels. Urgent processing exists for specific documented reasons (job, travel for a death in the family, etc.) but is discretionary.
Urgent Processing: When You Can Ask
IRCC may expedite a citizenship certificate if you can document a genuine urgent need, such as:
- A job offer or job loss that depends on proof of citizenship
- Travel to or from Canada for a serious illness or death in the family
- Protecting a person’s status or access to a benefit/service
Urgent requests need written proof (a letter from an employer, a death certificate, etc.). Wanting to travel on vacation is not enough.
Bill C-3: Who Newly Qualifies
The December 2025 amendments addressed the first-generation limit that previously blocked citizenship from passing to children born abroad to Canadian parents who were themselves born abroad. Many people who were told for years they were “not eligible” may now qualify. If you were previously refused citizenship by descent because of the second-generation cut-off, it is worth re-checking your eligibility under the new framework.
Common Mistakes
- Applying for a passport before having proof of citizenship (the passport application will stall)
- Confusing the citizenship grant application with the proof-of-citizenship application
- Assuming old “not eligible” decisions still stand after Bill C-3
- Booking travel around an estimated processing time — estimates change monthly
- Submitting incomplete parent documentation, which restarts the clock
FAQ
I already have a foreign passport. Do I still need a citizenship certificate?
If you want a Canadian passport or to formally prove Canadian citizenship, yes. A foreign passport does not prove Canadian citizenship.
Can my child born abroad get citizenship now?
Possibly, depending on the generation and the post-Bill C-3 rules. Check eligibility carefully — this is the area most affected by the 2025 changes.
Is the 15-month wait the same everywhere?
Applicants residing outside Canada or the US may face longer windows. The figure represents the time within which 80% of applicants receive a decision.
Canadianow is an independent publisher, not a law firm. Last reviewed: June 2026.
Sources
- IRCC — Apply for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship)
- IRCC — Processing times (June 10, 2026 update)
- Bill C-3, An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act (in force December 15, 2025)
Written by Canadianow Editorial Team. Last reviewed: June 2026.
