Building a stronger immigration system – Citizenship
358,900
new
Canadian citizens
welcomed in 2023-24
Our performance
From April 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024, Canada welcomed 358,900 new citizens, compared to 335,700 in the same period in 2022-23.
Reducing backlog
We’re continuing to modernize and increase our services for those who want to become Canadians.
- Information on this page is up to date as of . Data is approximate and subject to change.
- IRCC is working toward our goal to process 80% of applications within our service standards, which allows for expected delays in very complex cases or when more information is needed from clients before finalizing their files.
- Our projections are estimates based on current operating conditions and may change. They don’t account for sharp increases in received applications, urgent shifts in priorities, or other unforeseen circumstances affecting our operations.
Citizenship grants
2022-2024 Percentage of backlog of citizenship grant applications – Actual and projected
2022-2024 Percentage of backlog of citizenship grant applications – Actual and projected
| Month | Backlog (Actual) | Backlog (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | 46% | - |
| Feb 22 | 45% | - |
| Mar 22 | 42% | - |
| Apr 22 | 40% | - |
| May 22 | 39% | - |
| Jun 22 | 37% | - |
| Jul 22 | 35% | - |
| Aug 22 | 30% | 30% |
| Sep 22 | 30% | 30% |
| Oct 22 | 28% | 28% |
| Nov 22 | 29% | 27% |
| Dec 22 | 28% | 26% |
| Jan 23 | 27% | 26% |
| Feb 23 | 26% | 25% |
| Mar 23 | 25% | 24% |
| Apr 23 | 25% | 24% |
| May 23 | 23% | 24% |
| Jun 23 | 24% | 24% |
| Jul 23 | 21% | 24% |
| Aug 23 | 21% | 26% |
| Sep 23 | 21% | 26% |
| Oct 23 | 21% | 19% |
| Nov 23 | 20% | 19% |
| Dec 23 | 19% | 18% |
| Jan 24 | 19% | 17% |
| Feb 24 | 18% | 17% |
| Mar 24 | - | 17% |
| Apr 24 | - | 18% |
What we’ve done
- We launched online application processes for those either applying for citizenship, wanting straightforward proof of citizenship or asking for a search of citizenship records. We also expanded online applications for citizenship to minors under the age of 18.
- We launched a platform for applicants to complete the citizenship test online.
- We introduced virtual citizenship ceremonies.
- We created an online citizenship application tracker to help people stay up to date on the status of their application and any required next steps. We also expanded access to the tracker to representatives.
- We made the electronic citizenship certificate available to more people to modernize and improve our citizenship services.
We’ll continue to review and improve our processes so we can eliminate steps, use technology to support our employees and speed up processing.
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