Apply—Give up (renounce) citizenship

The application to renounce is available here:

• Application to Renounce Canadian Citizenship

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. 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 this form:

• Application to Renounce Canadian Citizenship for certain persons who acquired citizenship on April 17, 2009 (R7.1)

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

• If you are in Canada, contact the Call Centre.
• If you are outside Canada, contact the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate responsible for your area.

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.

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 provide clear and legible certified copies, a translation of them and an affidavit from the translator. Translations by family members are not acceptable.

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 online is the preferred method of payment.

To pay your fees online, 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; and
• pay your fees online when you are ready.

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

• 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 do the following:

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

For more detailed instructions, read the application kit.

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 are renouncing citizenship through the streamlined process for those affected by changes to the Citizenship Act that took effect on April 17, 2009, send your completed application form and documents to:

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Case Processing Centre—Sydney
Renunciation (R7.1)
P.O. Box 12000
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1P 7C2  Canada

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.