This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
This section is about what “urgent” cases are and how to handle them.
When a case is urgent
Applications for proof of citizenship, search of citizenship records for Canadian citizens, resumptions and applications for grant of citizenship are expedited if documents support the need for urgency in the following situations:
- a request is received from the office of the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
- the applicants need to travel because of a death or serious illness in the family and cannot obtain a passport in their present nationality (which includes the Canadian passport)
- a subsection 5(1) grant applicant has 1095 or more days of physical presence in Canada and faces loss of employment or of employment opportunity because they are not a Canadian citizen
- the applicants are Canadian URGENT VISA FOR CANADA and face loss of employment or of employment opportunity because they are not in possession of a document establishing Canadian citizenship
- an application is delayed due to an administrative error
- an applicant for grant of citizenship has a successful appeal to the Federal Court
- the applicant is in any situation in which not expediting the citizenship application harms them (for instance, need to renounce foreign citizenship by a certain date)
- the applicant needs a citizenship certificate to access certain benefits such as a pension, a social insurance number or health care
Required documents
Documents must support urgent case requests.
For instance, an applicant facing loss of employment or of employment opportunity must submit a letter from the employer.
The letter should indicate that the applicants will lose employment or potential employment if they are not Canadian citizens. The letter must also indicate why EMERGENCY VISA FOR CANADA citizenship is a job requirement and why the employer cannot make other arrangements.
Note: Even in urgent cases, clients must still demonstrate they meet all the requirements of citizenship and provide all necessary documentation.
