Canada
Need a Canadian Citizenship Records Search Fast? How Urgent Processing Works
A search of citizenship records can be used, for example, to show a foreign government that you're not a Canadian citizen, or to show you are or are not a citizen for a job. Source: IRCC The basics are in our CIT 0058 guide. This article covers urgent requests.
Reasons IRCC accepts
IRCC says it can process a search faster than normal in special cases, if you need it to: Source: IRCC, Urgent processing
- prove to a foreign government that you're not a citizen, for example to get a passport from that country
- administer the estate of a deceased person or execute a will
- show you are or are not a citizen to get a certain job
IRCC reviews each request to see if it qualifies. Even if it qualifies, IRCC says it can't guarantee you'll get the result on time. Source: IRCC IRCC's pages don't say how much faster an urgent search is, or whether a search about an ancestor qualifies, so ask IRCC if you're unsure.
What to include
- a letter explaining why you need urgent processing
- supporting documents, such as a letter from a foreign government stating that it needs the information, documents showing you're administering an estate or are the executor of a will, or a letter from an employer
If you haven't applied yet
Online: you can apply online only for your own records. When the application asks whether you need urgent processing, answer "Yes", explain why and upload your documents. Once you start, you have 60 days to submit. Source: IRCC, How to apply
On paper: for someone else's record you must apply on paper. Include the letter and documents, and write "Urgent – Search of citizenship records" in large, dark letters on the envelope. Source: IRCC, How to apply For a person who died more than 20 years ago, IRCC asks for a copy of your own ID, such as a driver's licence. Source: IRCC
Don't file both online and on paper for the same request. IRCC won't process the duplicate. Source: IRCC
If you already applied
- Applied online, or on paper from Canada or the U.S.: fill out IRCC's web form and explain why you need urgent processing.
- Applied on paper from outside Canada and the U.S.: contact the Canadian embassy, consulate or high commission where you submitted it.
Source: IRCC, Urgent processing