Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) finalized 3,040 proof‑of‑citizenship applications in June 2026, roughly half the average monthly output recorded from January to May. At the same time, the backlog of pending applications rose sharply.
Recent processing figures
| Period | Proof‑of‑citizenship certificates finalized |
|---|---|
| Jan – May 2026 (average) | ~5,800 per month |
| June 2026 | 3,040 |
| Jan 1 – Jun 30 2026 (cumulative) | 31,980 |
| Jan 1 – May 31 2026 (previous report) | 28,940 |
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The cumulative total of 31,980 certificates issued by June 30 represents the number of “proofs issued since January 1, 2026,” according to IRCC’s application‑processing system page.
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The pending queue grew from 82,020 applications on May 31 to 99,520 on June 30 – an increase of 17,500 in four weeks.
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As of August 2026, IRCC’s processing‑times tool shows about 121,800 applicants still awaiting a decision.
Why finalizations fell in June
- In early June IRCC sent an email to recent U.S. recipients informing them that their approved certificates were under review.
- The department temporarily paused finalizing new citizenship‑by‑descent applications while it examined roughly 6,500 certificates already issued.
- The review, completed on June 30, flagged 100 certificates for potentially insufficient documentation; 33 of those were reinstated after verification.
- The pause, combined with an already expanding backlog, explains the near‑50 % drop in June’s output.
Continuing surge in demand
- Bill C‑3, which took effect on 15 December 2025, removed the first‑generation limit on citizenship by descent. Persons born abroad to a Canadian parent who themselves were born abroad can now claim citizenship.
- The change opens eligibility to descendants of Canadian grandparents, great‑grandparents, or more distant ancestors, regardless of how many generations separate them from the original Canadian ancestor.
- The majority of new applications are coming from the United States, especially New England, where an estimated 900,000 French‑Canadian descendants settled between the mid‑19th and early‑20th centuries. Many are now discovering eligibility under the revised rules.
Proof of citizenship vs. citizenship grants
- Proof of citizenship: issued to individuals who are already Canadian citizens (by birth, descent, or prior grant) and need a certificate to confirm that status. Demand has risen sharply due to the Bill C‑3 changes and also includes cases of lost or damaged certificates.
- Citizenship grants: for permanent residents applying for Canadian citizenship for the first time. IRCC finalized 162,020 citizenship‑grant applications from Jan 1 2026 to Jun 30 2026, with 326,190 still pending as of June 30.
Practical considerations
- IRCC’s processing estimates are based on the existing queue, staffing levels, and projected volumes. Submitting an application later generally means joining a longer waitlist.
- Applicants born before 15 December 2025 who can trace ancestry to a Canadian grandparent, great‑grandparent, or earlier ancestor may already be citizens; a proof‑of‑citizenship certificate is required to obtain a Canadian passport or other official documents.
The data indicate that while the June slowdown was temporary and linked to an internal review, the overall demand for proof‑of‑citizenship certificates is expected to remain high as more descendants of Canadian ancestors pursue citizenship under the expanded descent rules.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
