How long a decision on a file really takes: the law’s deadlines and real life

The short answer

Since 12 March 2025 the law gives the citizenship commission up to 2 years from the registration of the application to produce its report, plus up to 6 months more if the authenticity of documents has to be verified. The actual average review time under article 11 is around 3.3 years. On top of that come the archives and preparation before filing, and several months for the documents after the oath.

What the total timeline is made of

All told, the path “from scratch to passport” is today sensibly planned as

3.5–5 years. Anyone quoting “a year, turnkey” is either selling a scheme or has never handled a real case.

Why different sources give different figures

The ANC website still shows 5 months in places — that is the period from the old version of the law, and the FAQ section has not been updated. Since March 2025 the new version of article 15 applies: the commission’s report within 2 years, extendable by 6 months to verify the authenticity of documents. The new procedural rules also apply to applications filed before the law came into force and not yet decided.

Another figure doing the rounds is 16–30 months “to the order”. It was close to the truth before 2023. The benchmark now is different: judging by case movement, the files being allocated to the commission were submitted three years earlier.

What actually affects the timeline

• Completeness. Every query from the commission adds months: while the letter travels, while you collect the papers, while the case goes back into the queue.
• Doubts about authenticity. If even one document raises questions, a separate check begins — that is the extra 6 months, and it is also the main reason why “improved” papers must never go into a file.
• A criminal investigation into the applicant. The procedure may be suspended until it is concluded.
• The number of generations in the chain. The deeper the basis, the more documents and the higher the chance of a query.

What does not affect it: extra payments, “expediting”, going through intermediaries, or the number of letters sent to the ANC.

What this means for you

A long timeline is an argument for starting now, not for waiting: the queue moves from the date the file is registered, and every month of delay is a month added at the finish. That said, there is no need to wait passively: while the case sits with the commission you obtain the language certificate and calmly finish the remaining documents.

Where time is genuinely saved:

That is what support work is: we do not move the review period — nobody moves it — but we remove everything that adds extra months to it.

Where people get it wrong

• “Five months and it is done.” That figure comes from an outdated text. The benchmark is two years and more.
• “Silence means the file has been lost.” A case is only visible at certain stages; silence in between is normal.
• “It can be speeded up through the courts.” Courts hear appeals against refusals, not against slowness; claims about delay are filed, but the outcome is unpredictable and the proceedings take as long as the wait.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a statutory deadline by which the ANC must respond? Yes: the commission’s report within two years of registration, extendable by no more than six months.

My case number is from 2022 — when should I expect a decision? Look at which numbers are being allocated to the commission now and count the gap. That is the only honest way to forecast.

What should I do while waiting? Obtain the language certificate if it has not been supplied yet; keep the contact details in the file up to date; do not order documents in advance that will expire.

Does a lawyer speed up the case? No. A lawyer helps you not to lose the case over queries and to answer them properly — that saves months, but it does not move the queue.