A Canadian proof of citizenship certificate confirms that a person is already Canadian. IRCC’s standard processing time is currently about 15 months, but some applicants may request urgent processing when a genuine deadline or serious hardship makes the normal wait impractical.
Urgent processing is not automatic. IRCC reviews each request individually, may refuse the request, and will not process an incomplete application. Even if urgent processing is approved, it does not guarantee that the certificate will be issued within a specific published timeline.
Situations that may qualify for urgent processing
IRCC may accept urgent processing requests when the certificate is needed for a serious or time-sensitive reason. Examples include:
- Employment, including applying for a job or keeping an existing job
- Education, where a school, college, or university place depends on proof of citizenship
- Travel because of a death or serious illness in the family, when the applicant cannot obtain a passport in another nationality in time
- A case of statelessness
- Moving a minor child to Canada, if the child was born outside Canada and has a Canadian parent
- Giving up another citizenship by a fixed deadline, where renunciation depends on first proving Canadian citizenship
- Avoiding harm or hardship connected to race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or membership in a particular group
- Accessing social benefits such as a pension, health care, or a social insurance number
The urgent reason is separate from the question of whether the applicant is Canadian. The request only asks IRCC to review the certificate application faster.
Separate urgent route for some dual citizens
A separate urgent-processing route may apply to dual citizens.
To use this route, the applicant must:
- Be Canadian and also a citizen of a visa-exempt country
- Show proof of air travel to Canada within six months of applying
This route is aimed at a specific problem: Canadian citizens are expected to enter Canada using a Canadian passport, but a Canadian passport usually requires proof of citizenship first. A dual citizen with booked travel to Canada and no certificate yet may therefore request urgent processing.
Meeting these conditions allows the applicant to request urgent processing, but it still does not guarantee approval or completion in time.
Evidence required
A request for urgent processing must include:
- A letter explaining why urgent processing is needed
- Documents supporting the reason
Supporting evidence depends on the case. It may include:
- A paid plane ticket or travel itinerary
- An employer letter
- A school acceptance letter
- A doctor’s note
- A death certificate
Urgent processing speeds up review of a complete file. It does not reduce the evidence required. A weak or incomplete application will not be approved simply because it is marked urgent.
There is no extra fee to request urgent processing.
How to request urgent processing
For a new online application, the applicant can indicate that urgent processing is needed, explain the reason, and upload supporting documents.
For a new paper application, the applicant should include the explanation letter and supporting documents, and write:
Urgent – Citizenship Certificate (Proof)
This should be written in large, dark letters on the envelope.
If the application has already been submitted, the process depends on location:
- Applicants in Canada or the United States use IRCC’s web form and begin the message with “Request for urgent processing.”
- Applicants outside Canada and the United States contact the embassy, consulate, or high commission where they applied.
Applicants should not submit a second application to try to speed things up. IRCC says it will not process duplicate applications. If someone has already applied urgently on paper and then applies again online, the online application will be ignored.
For citizenship-by-descent applications, approval of urgent processing is largely discretionary. The reviewing IRCC officer decides whether to expedite the file. There is no automatic right to urgent review, even where the circumstances appear to fit. If urgent processing is refused, the application continues under standard processing without penalty.
Risks of making a false urgent request
Applicants should not invent or exaggerate urgent-processing grounds. Submitting false information to IRCC can be treated as misrepresentation, a form of fraud with serious legal consequences.
A fraud finding can lead to:
- Refusal of the application
- A five-year ban on applying for citizenship
- A permanent fraud record with IRCC
- In some cases, loss of status granted based on false information
IRCC has recently suspended some approved citizenship-by-descent certificates over documentation concerns, showing that certificate files can be reviewed after approval.
Urgent processing can be useful when there is a genuine deadline and clear supporting evidence. If the situation does not fit, the standard process remains the main route, and applying sooner is the practical way to reduce the overall wait.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
