PR & Citizenship Update — July 23, 2026

What You Should Do

• -If you have received a citizenship ceremony invitation, confirm the format (virtual or in-person) listed in the invitation letter. If you need to change the format, contact IRCC directly before the ceremony date. Practice the oath of citizenship in your preferred language (English or French) in advance.
• -If attending a virtual citizenship ceremony, ensure you have a stable video connection and remain seated while reciting the oath. If attending in person, plan to stand during the oath. Request accommodations or a waiver in advance if needed by contacting your local IRCC office.
• -If you are planning to apply for permanent residence, use the processing time benchmarks to set realistic expectations: budget 6–7 months for Express Entry (federal stage), 13 months for base PNP (federal stage), 15–21 months for spousal sponsorship, and up to 40 months for the Atlantic Immigration Program. Check current official processing times at canada.ca/immigration-processing-times before filing.
• -If you were planning to apply under the Start-up Visa or Self-Employed Persons program, note these are currently paused. Monitor canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada.html for reopening announcements before preparing any application materials.