Renouncing citizenship: How to apply

To apply to renounce your citizenship, you must:

  1. Obtain an application kit.
  2. Read the guide.
  3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.
  4. Pay the fee and get the necessary receipt.
  5. Mail the application form and documents.

1. Obtain an application kit.

The general application to renounce is:

If you acquired or reacquired your citizenship as a result of changes to the Citizenship Act that took effect on April 17, 2009, you may be eligible to apply to renounce your citizenship through the streamlined renunciation process. This process is available, at no fee, to adults born before February 15, 1977, who automatically became Canadian under the new law and who are citizens of another country. Use the form:

You can also ask for an application to be mailed to you.

2. Read the guide.

Read the guide carefully before you complete the application form. The fee for processing your form is not refundable, so make sure you are eligible to renounce your Canadian citizenship before you apply.

Note: If you acquired or reacquired your citizenship as a result of changes to the Citizenship Act that took effect on April 17, 2009, you may be eligible to apply to renounce your citizenship through the streamlined renunciation process. There are no fees for that application. See the Application to Renounce Canadian Citizenship for certain persons who acquired citizenship on April 17, 2009 (R7.1).

3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.

The application kit contains instructions. Read those instructions, and be sure to provide the required documents. If information or documents are missing, your application may be delayed.

If your documents are not in English or French, you must provide the original documents (not a photocopy) or clear and legible certified copies, a translation of them, and an affidavit from the person who did the translations. Translations by family members are not acceptable.

4. Pay the fees and get the necessary receipt.

The fee is $100 for the general application to renounce Canadian citizenship.  There is no fee for those who are eligible to apply to renounce through the streamlined process.

The application processing fee is payable in Canadian funds only.

Payment of fees on the Internet is the preferred method of payment.

To pay your fees on the Internet, you must:

  • Have a PDF Reader.
  • Have a printer.
  • Have a valid email address.
  • Pay with a Visa®, MasterCard® or American Express® credit card.
  • Print the “receipt of payment” page and include it with your application.
  • Pay your fees on the Internet when you are ready.

To pay your fees at a financial institution in Canada, you must:

  • Obtain an original payment receipt form (IMM 5401): Order it online or contact the Call Centre.
  • Fill the receipt form and bring it with you when you go to pay your fees.
  • Include the completed payment receipt form (IMM 5401) with your application.

To pay your fees at the Canadian consular mission (embassy, high commission or consulate) responsible for your area, you must:

  • Find out which method of payment is required. The consular mission determines the payment method (cheque, money order, cash).

For more detailed instructions, read the application kit.

5. Mail the application form and documents.

If you live in Canada, mail your completed application form and the required documents to:

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Case Processing Centre – Sydney
Renunciation
P.O. Box 10000
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1P 7C1

If you live outside Canada, mail your completed application form and the required documents to the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate responsible for your area.

Note: If you acquired or reacquired your citizenship as a result of changes to the Citizenship Act that took effect on April 17, 2009 and you are eligible to renounce citizenship through the new, streamlined process (see application kit for eligibility information), send your completed application form (Application to Renounce Canadian Citizenship for certain persons who acquired citizenship on April 17, 2009 (R7.1)) and the required documents to:

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Case Processing Centre – Sydney
Renunciation (R7.1)
P.O. 12,000
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1P 7C2  Canada

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