Apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate: Who can apply

Eligibility

You should apply if you want to

• pass down your Canadian citizenship to your child who was born outside Canada
• provide a document that proves your Canadian citizenship (such as to apply for a passport, job, pension, social insurance number, etc.)
• make sure that you’re a Canadian citizen
• replace a lost, destroyed or stolen certificate
• update your certificate, such as when you get a legal name change

Get a certificate for someone born in Canada

A provincial or territorial birth certificate should be enough to prove Canadian citizenship.

You may still apply for a citizenship certificate.

Get a certificate for someone born outside Canada

A person is likely a Canadian citizen if at least 1 parent (legal parent at birth [opens in a new tab] or biological parent)

• was born in Canada, or
• became a naturalized Canadian citizen before the person was born

You can check if you or your minor child (under 18) may be a Canadian citizen

• on our See if you may be a citizen page
• by using our Am I a Canadian? tool

To find out for sure, apply for a citizenship certificate.

For more information, see changes to citizenship rules on

• which parents can pass down their Canadian citizenship (2020)
• who is or isn’t a Canadian citizen (2009 to 2015)

Adopted children born outside Canada

If you’re a Canadian parent who adopted a child born outside Canada, your child

• is not automatically a Canadian citizen
• needs to become a Canadian citizen to get the citizenship certificate
  • If you apply for a certificate directly, we’ll return your application.

You can still apply to replace their lost, destroyed or stolen certificate.

Minors who are permanent residents

If your minor child is a permanent resident, do not apply directly for a citizenship certificate. To get a certificate, you need to apply for your child’s Canadian citizenship (naturalization or grant of citizenship).

If you apply to become a Canadian citizen

If you apply for and receive Canadian citizenship (naturalization or grant of citizenship), you

• will receive the certificate at a citizenship ceremony
• do not need to apply for a citizenship certificate