Canada Citizenship Processing Time Now 19 Months

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that the processing time for citizenship applications has now stretched to 19 months, reflecting a significant increase in backlog. Earlier this year, the estimated wait time was shorter, but the rise in pending applications has necessitated this update.

The IRCC indicated that new applicants may expect to wait approximately one year and seven months for a decision on their citizenship applications. The processing time is calculated based on the number of applications already in the system and the available processing capacity.

The IRCC emphasized that the timelines are estimates and not guarantees, as additional documentation, security checks, and further reviews may extend the process. The processing clock begins once a complete application is received and ends when a final decision is made.

The announcement has sparked concerns among applicants, as the number of pending cases continues to rise.