On this page you will find:
- IRCC’s new citizenship processing targets for 2026-2027
- How technology and AI are expected to improve citizenship services
- Why the number of new citizens fell sharply in 2025
- How Bill C-3 changed citizenship-by-descent rules
- What the new framework means for applicants now
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has set new operational targets for citizenship processing at the same time as Canada’s citizenship law has opened the door to a much wider group of citizenship-by-descent claims.
In its 2026-2027 Departmental Plan, IRCC says it aims to complete at least 80% of citizenship grant applications within 12 months. The department also set a target for at least 96% of citizenship grant decisions to meet citizenship quality management program standards.
Those service targets come as Bill C-3 has permanently changed Canada’s citizenship-by-descent rules, ending the first-generation limit for many affected families and creating a new legal framework for future claims.
Taken together, the developments show how Canada’s citizenship system is changing on two fronts at once – faster processing for standard citizenship applicants and broader recognition for many people claiming citizenship through a Canadian parent, grandparent or even earlier ancestor.
IRCC Targets Faster Citizenship Processing
IRCC’s new plan focuses heavily on service delivery.
For 2026-2027, the department says it will work to strengthen operational efficiency and program integrity by making decisions on citizenship grant applications within 12 months of receipt, while continuing to meet program standards. The formal target is to complete at least 80% of citizenship grant applications within that time frame.
The department also wants at least 96% of citizenship grant decisions to meet internal quality standards. That target matters because it shows IRCC is not simply promising faster processing. It is also signalling that accuracy and consistency remain central to the citizenship system.
For applicants, the message is straightforward. IRCC wants a faster and more predictable process, but it does not want speed to come at the cost of decision quality.
Technology and AI Will Play a Bigger Role
The Departmental Plan makes clear that technology will be central to how IRCC tries to reach those goals.
The department says it will leverage technology to improve processing efficiencies and risk detection within citizenship knowledge testing, application assessment and client communications. It also plans to improve procedures and enhance training to increase agility when processing applications.
This fits into IRCC’s wider push to modernise its systems through digital tools and responsible use of artificial intelligence. In practice, applicants can expect a system that relies more heavily on digital communications, streamlined internal workflows and technology-assisted review.
That does not mean AI will replace decision-making. IRCC’s broader plan stresses that technology is meant to support officers, improve productivity and strengthen service delivery while maintaining fairness, transparency and accountability.
New Citizen Numbers Fell in 2025
The new processing targets come after a notable drop in the number of people who became Canadian citizens in 2025.
Canada granted citizenship to 375,695 people in 2022, 380,005 in 2023 and 375,445 in 2024. In 2025, that figure fell to 293,920.
That represents a drop of more than 81,000 compared with 2024. After three years of relatively stable results, the decline gives added context to IRCC’s push for faster, more efficient citizenship processing in 2026-2027.
The figures do not, on their own, explain why the number fell. But they do show why operational performance now matters more. If IRCC wants to stabilise or improve citizenship outcomes, it will need to process applications efficiently while maintaining quality.
Bill C-3 Has Changed Citizenship-By-Descent Rules
At the same time as IRCC is trying to improve day-to-day citizenship processing, the legal framework for citizenship-by-descent claims has changed significantly.
Bill C-3, which amended the Citizenship Act, permanently ended the first-generation limit that had blocked many people born abroad from being recognised as Canadian citizens. Under the old rule, citizenship generally could only be passed on for one generation born outside Canada.
That limit created many of the so-called Lost Canadians – people who were excluded from citizenship not because their family lacked a Canadian connection, but because their Canadian parent had also been born or adopted outside Canada.
Bill C-3 corrected that problem. People who qualify under the amended law are now considered Canadian citizens and may apply for proof of citizenship. This is not a future proposal or a temporary policy. It is now settled law.
Two Different Groups Will Be Watching Closely
These changes matter to two very different groups of applicants.
The first group is permanent residents applying for citizenship grants in the usual way. For them, the key questions are how quickly IRCC will process applications, whether the 12-month target will be met and how digital tools may change the client experience.
The second group is people seeking proof of citizenship under the new by-descent rules. For them, the legal door may now be open, but the practical challenge will often lie in proving the family chain with the right documentary evidence.
In other words, the citizenship system may become faster for some people and more accessible for others – but also more demanding in terms of record gathering and legal interpretation.
What This Means for IRCC
For IRCC itself, the challenge is significant.
The department is trying to improve standard citizenship processing while also operating in a legal environment where more people may now be entitled to Canadian citizenship through descent. That means it must manage service delivery, maintain decision quality and adapt to potentially more complex proof-of-citizenship files at the same time.
The use of technology, better procedures and enhanced staff training will all be important if the department is to meet its 2026-2027 targets while responding effectively to Bill C-3.
A Citizenship System in Transition
Canada’s citizenship system is entering a new phase.
IRCC’s Departmental Plan sets out clear targets for faster processing and stronger decision quality. At the same time, Bill C-3 has expanded citizenship-by-descent claims by removing the old first-generation limit for many families and replacing it with a new substantial-connection framework for future cases.
For applicants, the result is a system that is becoming both more modern and, in some areas, more inclusive. For IRCC, it means the pressure is now on to deliver both efficiency and legal certainty in one of the most important parts of Canada’s immigration framework.
FAQ
What are IRCC’s new citizenship processing targets for 2026-2027?
IRCC says it aims to complete at least 80% of citizenship grant applications within 12 months. It also wants at least 96% of citizenship grant decisions to meet internal quality standards. These targets show the department is focusing on both faster service and accurate, consistent decision-making.
What did Bill C-3 change about citizenship-by-descent claims?
Bill C-3 ended the first-generation limit for many affected families. That old rule had blocked citizenship from being passed beyond one generation born abroad. Under the amended law, many people previously excluded may now be recognised as Canadian citizens and can apply for proof of citizenship under the Citizenship Act.
Can I now claim Canadian citizenship through a grandparent or great-grandparent?
Possibly. Bill C-3 allows citizenship to flow through multiple generations in many past cases where the first-generation limit had cut the line of descent. Eligibility depends on the legal chain of citizenship and the supporting documents. Each case turns on the specific family history and documentary evidence available.
Does Bill C-3 give citizenship automatically, or do I still need to apply?
For people covered by the law, citizenship is recognised by operation of law rather than granted as a new benefit. However, most people will still need to apply for proof of citizenship to obtain official confirmation. In practice, that means applying for a citizenship certificate supported by full documentary evidence.
Why are some citizenship-by-descent applications so complex?
Many claims involve several generations, historic citizenship laws, births abroad, adoptions, name changes and records from multiple countries. The legal change may be clear, but proving eligibility can still be demanding. Success often depends on building a complete and consistent documentary chain that supports the claim under the amended law.
