Non-Routine Citizenship Applications (2024–2025) – Timelines

[Mas_32]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to connect with others who have non-routine Canadian citizenship applications, especially cases involving fingerprints, extended background/security checks, or delayed processing beyond standard timelines.

Here’s a quick snapshot of my timeline:

• Application submitted: 26 Feb 2025
• Test: Completed
• Criminality: Passed
• Background/Security: In progress
• Other stages (language, prohibitions, physical presence): Not started / pending
• Marked as non-routine (fingerprints requested)

I’ve also been informed that timelines may exceed standard processing due to additional verifications.

---

Would really appreciate if others can share:

• Application date
• When/if fingerprints were requested
• Time taken for background/security to clear
• When remaining steps (language, prohibitions, etc.) started after that
• Total time to oath (if completed)

---

Also curious:

• Has anyone successfully received urgent processing in a non-routine case (especially employment-related)?
• Did MP involvement help move things forward?

---

Trying to understand realistic timelines and patterns here — any data points would be really helpful.

Thanks in advance!

 

[armoured]

• Has anyone successfully received urgent processing in a non-routine case (especially employment-related)?

Since your employment-related request is to be employed outside of Canada by a non-Canadian company, I should think any request for urgent treatment would not be granted. YMMV.

 

[Ross88]

Hello IRCC. I would like to become a Canadian of convenience ASAP. Can I please ask for urgent processing?

 

[onward28332]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to connect with others who have non-routine Canadian citizenship applications, especially cases involving fingerprints, extended background/security checks, or delayed processing beyond standard timelines.

Here’s a quick snapshot of my timeline:

• Application submitted: 26 Feb 2025
• Test: Completed
• Criminality: Passed
• Background/Security: In progress
• Other stages (language, prohibitions, physical presence): Not started / pending
• Marked as non-routine (fingerprints requested)

I’ve also been informed that timelines may exceed standard processing due to additional verifications.

---

Would really appreciate if others can share:

• Application date
• When/if fingerprints were requested
• Time taken for background/security to clear
• When remaining steps (language, prohibitions, etc.) started after that
• Total time to oath (if completed)

---

Also curious:

• Has anyone successfully received urgent processing in a non-routine case (especially employment-related)?
• Did MP involvement help move things forward?

---

Trying to understand realistic timelines and patterns here — any data points would be really helpful.

Thanks in advance!

April 2025
no fingerprint requested
BG stuck, Prohibition not started

How do you find out if your application is Non-routine?

 

[armoured]

April 2025
no fingerprint requested
BG stuck, Prohibition not started

How do you find out if your application is Non-routine?

For the most part, "non-routine" in IRCC designation is a catch-all term that just means "delayed beyond normal timelines." (They may also use the term to refer to any application for which non-typical checks or steps needed, but less frequently encountered.)

So for the most part, it's a self-licking ice cream cone of a phrase: if you ask why it's delayed [beyond the usual estimated timeframe] and they tell you it's because it's non-routine, well, that's just a circular reference. It's obviously not the 'cause' of the delay.

The actual cause is often security checks but can be other reasons as well.

How do you find out? Well, when it goes much beyond the usual estimated timeframe, they'll probably call it non-routine.

 

[ZMS 76]

Type : Online application
Location : Scarborough.
Physical Presence Days : 1101.
Application Type : Single
Application sent : 2025/06/25.
Delivered : 2025/06/25.
AOR : 2025/08/05.
F.P Request : 2025/08/06.
F.P Submitted : 2025/08/06.
Test invitation email : 2025/11/17.
Test window : 2025/11/21 to 2025/12/20.
Test taken : 2025/11/21.
Test updated on tracker: 2025/11/25.
Language skills : 2025/12/15.
Physical presence :2025/12/15.

Non Routine File. stuck with CSIS from 2025-08-06. status showing "Grant clearance pending". No updates since 2025-12-15. Got GCMS Notes from CBSA and IRCC. No movement.

 

[dpenabill]

How do you find out if your application is Non-routine?

"Non-routine" has long been a description of applications subject to any inquiry or processing that is outside the standard processing of a citizenship application. It is not a status or a category of applications, even though many use the term that way, as something of a label.

IRCC says that they "consider your application complex or non-routine if some parts of your application need extra review or processing on our part."

If the applicant receives a request for additional information or documentation, that is non-routine. That includes fingerprint requests.

If the application is referred to a special processing unit or to another agency (such as CBSA/NSSD or CSIS), that is non-routine.

It does not necessarily mean there is any unusual or lengthy delay in processing.

So an application is "non-routine" even if there is just a simple fingerprint request which, for many, maybe for most applicants getting a FP request, should not delay processing by much, if at all (as long as FPs are promptly submitted).

So the OP's effort is overly broad in that it groups very different situations. There is little comparison in what is causing delays in processing times, or in how much delay is caused, for applicants getting FP requests compared to "complex" applications involving background inquiries or investigations referred to other agencies, such as applications flagged for criminality or security screening beyond the background clearances done in batches.

Note that IRCC appears to be transitioning its language, focusing more on referring to some applications as "complex" rather than "non-routine" to explain why processing is taking longer than norms or is otherwise outside service standards.

But the key thing is that it is not the label that matters. What really matters is what makes the application complex or non-routine. Simple FP requests, generally no big deal. Referral to CBSA/NSSD to investigate concerns about the applicant's reported travel history, attendant verifying physical presence, that could cause a significant delay. Referral to CBSA/NSSD for investigation of prohibitions, especially if in regards to suspected misrepresentation, criminality, or security concerns, that tends to involve even longer delays. And it seems like referrals to CSIS for focused security screening sometimes fall into a black hole.

THUS . . . finding out that IRCC considers your application to be non-routine does not mean much at all. That does not indicate what sort of delay there might be. Figuring out what makes your application complex or non-routine can give the applicant some idea as to whether to expect a lengthy delay. Figuring out if IRCC has a security concern, for example, that says something, and at least in terms of processing timelines something not good . . . and especially not good if it involves a referral to CSIS for a potential security issue.