Canada
Can You Get a Canadian Citizenship Certificate Faster? IRCC Urgent Processing
IRCC says that in some cases it may process a citizenship certificate faster than normal processing times. Source: IRCC Help Centre
Reasons IRCC lists
- to help avoid harm or hardship due to factors such as race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or membership in particular groups
- to move your minor child to Canada, if they were born outside Canada and have a Canadian parent
- to help with a case of statelessness
- to travel because of death or serious illness in the family, when you can't get a passport in your other nationality
- to give up (renounce) a foreign citizenship by a certain date
- to apply for a job, avoid losing a current job, or attend a school, college or university
- to access social benefits like a pension, health care or a social insurance number
Dual citizens traveling to Canada
Dual Canadian citizens can apply urgently if they are also a citizen of a visa-exempt country and have proof of air travel to Canada within 6 months of the application date. Source: IRCC Help Centre
What to include
Your request needs an explanation letter and supporting documents, such as a paid plane ticket or itinerary, a letter from your employer or school, a doctor's note or a death certificate. Source: IRCC Help Centre
- New online application: answer yes to the urgent processing question, explain why, and upload your documents.
- New paper application: include the letter and documents, and write "Urgent – Citizenship Certificate (Proof)" in large, dark letters on the envelope.
- Already applied: from Canada or the U.S., use IRCC's web form with a message starting "Request for urgent processing". From elsewhere, contact the embassy, consulate or high commission where you applied.
Source: IRCC Help Centre Don't submit a duplicate urgent application; IRCC won't process an online application that duplicates a paper one. Source: IRCC Help Centre
No guarantee
IRCC reviews each request, doesn't process incomplete applications, and says that even if a request qualifies it can't guarantee you'll get the certificate in time. Source: IRCC Help Centre