Canada fast-tracks citizenship certificates for students planning to study in the country

Canada is fast-tracking some proof of citizenship applications from students planning to study in the country, with eligible applicants potentially receiving their citizenship certificates before their semester begins.

The expedited route could be particularly useful for people claiming Canadian citizenship by descent who need the certificate to enrol at a Canadian school, college or university.

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) currently estimates that regular proof of citizenship applications can take up to 25 months to process. The backlog has grown since Bill C-3 removed the first-generation limit on Canadian citizenship by descent in December 2025, allowing millions of people abroad to seek citizenship through Canadian family ties.

Who can request faster processing?

IRCC allows applicants to request urgent processing in limited circumstances, including education.

Applicants seeking expedited processing for studies in Canada must submit the request along with their complete citizenship certificate application. They need to provide:

• A cover letter requesting urgent processing and identifying the applicable situation
• A letter explaining why the certificate is urgently needed for education
• Proof of admission to a Canadian educational institution, such as an acceptance letter and tuition details

IRCC reviews these requests individually and does not guarantee that the certificate will arrive before the applicant's semester begins.

Why the citizenship certificate matters

Canadian citizens generally qualify for domestic tuition rates at Canadian colleges and universities, which can be significantly lower than international student fees. However, tuition rules vary by province and institution.

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Students may also need to provide their citizenship certificate before their institution can apply the domestic tuition rate. If the certificate has not arrived, they could initially be charged international student fees.

Canadian citizenship also allows students to work without the restrictions that apply to international students on study permits. International students are currently limited to 24 hours of off-campus work per week during academic sessions.

Other reasons for urgent processing

Education is one of several circumstances in which IRCC may consider an urgent request. Other situations include employment needs, serious illness or death in the family, statelessness, access to social benefits and certain cases involving a minor child with a Canadian parent.

An urgent processing request does not guarantee faster approval, and IRCC will not process an incomplete application.

For people who believe they may qualify for Canadian citizenship through ancestry, the first step is to apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate and provide documents establishing the connection to their Canadian ancestor.