Urgent processing

Processing times depend on the complexity of your case. If your situation is urgent and your child needs citizenship sooner, you can ask for urgent processing.

Who can ask for urgent processing

You can ask us to process your application for citizenship for your adopted child faster if there is a serious, urgent reason.

We only approve urgent processing in exceptional situations, such as:

your child is in danger or in an abusive situation abroad, and delays would increase their risk
your child is in a country where conditions are getting worse due to civil unrest, violence or breakdown of institutions
your child’s legal status is uncertain, or they may become stateless
your child has a serious medical condition and can’t get proper treatment in their country, or delays could put their life at risk
you, the adoptive parent, have a serious or life-threatening medical condition and delays in processing would harm you

What to know before you apply for urgent processing

We may not be able to process your application urgently, even if your situation is exceptional
We may not be able to process your application fast enough to help or resolve your situation
If your request doesn’t meet the criteria, we’ll process your application normally
Your adopted child can only come to Canada after they become a Canadian citizen

How to avoid delays

If your urgent request is approved, you can help us by

submitting all required documents and information with your application
paying your application fees
keeping your contact information up to date, including your
- email address
- mailing or residential address

How to request urgent processing

Urgent processing isn’t automatic. You must send in a web form, which includes

a clear explanation why your situation is urgent
proof to support your request (for example, medical reports)

Request urgent processing using the web form (opens in a new tab)

Page details

2026-07-14

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