The table below shows the processing time from receipt of application to finalization for 80 percent of cases processed between October 1, 2013 and September 30, 2014:
Routine citizenship applications
Non-routine citizenship applications
24 months
36 months
Once you receive your acknowledgment letter, you can also check your file’s status online.
Note: If it has been longer than the time shown above since you applied and you need more information, please contact the Call Centre. However, please note that Call Centre agents cannot speed up the process of your application nor make decisions on your case. Call Centre services are only available for people inside Canada.
What is a routine application?
An application is considered routine if:
we receive all the necessary documents and the correct fees;you meet the residence requirements;you are not subject to any immigration, security or criminal prohibitions;you meet the language requirements for citizenship;you pass the knowledge-of-Canada test (citizenship testyou do not need a hearing with a citizenship judge; andyou are not asked to provide additional documents such as fingerprints, a residence questionnaire or documents proving residence in Canada.What is a non-routine application?
An application is considered non-routine if any one of the following has occurred:
you are asked to provide a residence questionnaire, documents proving residence in Canada, fingerprints, or any other additional documents;we have not received all the necessary documents or the correct fees;it is unclear whether you meet the residence requirements;it is unclear whether you are subject to any immigration, security or criminal prohibitions;you do not meet the language requirements for citizenship;you fail or are unable to write the knowledge-of-Canada test (citizenship test); andyou require a hearing with a citizenship judge