PR & Citizenship

PR & Citizenship Update — July 30, 2026

Thursday, July 30, 2026

As of July 7, 2026, processing times dropped by one month for Canadian Experience Class (now 6 months, meeting IRCC's service standard), base PNP, Quebec Business Class, and Parent & Grandparent Program applicants.

Citizenship grant processing times have fallen to a four-month low, while Express Entry-aligned PNP and spousal sponsorship applicants outside Quebec saw wait times increase by one month.

Citizenship ceremonies are held virtually (most common) or in person; all candidates must take the oath, sing the national anthem, and sign the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship (OAC) form to receive their citizenship certificate.

What You Should Do

  • If you have a Canadian Experience Class PR application in progress, check your updated processing time (now 6 months) at ircc.canada.ca/english/information/times/index.asp to see if your file is within or beyond the service standard.
  • If you are a spousal sponsorship applicant outside Quebec or an Express Entry-aligned PNP applicant, note that your processing time increased by one month in the July 7 update — log into your IRCC account at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/account.html to confirm your current file status.
  • If you have received a citizenship ceremony invitation, confirm the format (virtual or in-person) stated in the invitation, practice the oath of citizenship in your preferred official language (English or French), and prepare to sign the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship (OAC) form on the day of the ceremony.
  • If you require accommodations for your citizenship oath or believe you qualify for a waiver, submit your request to IRCC before your scheduled ceremony date via canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/become-canadian-citizen/citizenship-ceremony.html.

Sources

  1. Wait times ease for permanent residence and citizenship applicants
  2. Your Canadian citizenship ceremony: what to expect and how to prepare
  3. Inside IRCC's application processing systemOfficial
  4. Citizenship ceremonyOfficial

Topics Covered

Spousal Sponsorship Processing ImprovementsPR Card Processing EfficiencyCitizenship Processing Improvements

Spousal Sponsorship Processing Improvements: Spousal sponsorship processing times outside Quebec increased by one month in the July 7, 2026 update, bucking the broader trend of declining wait times seen across most other categories.

PR Card Processing Efficiency: As of July 7, 2026, processing times for Canadian Experience Class PR applications dropped to 6 months (meeting IRCC's service standard), and base PNP and Quebec Business Class times also declined by one to two months. Express Entry-aligned PNP applicants saw a one-month increase.

Citizenship Processing Improvements: Citizenship grant processing times have dropped to a four-month low as of the July 7, 2026 IRCC update, the lowest level in recent months.

More PR & Citizenship Updates

PR & Citizenship Update — July 27, 2026

Jul 27, 2026

PR & Citizenship Update — July 23, 2026

Jul 23, 2026

PR & Citizenship Update — July 20, 2026

Jul 20, 2026

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