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:

• Application to Renounce Canadian Citizenship.

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:

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

You can download and print the application kit you need from Find an application form or guide in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page.

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

• If you are in Canada, contact the Call Centre (see Contact Us at the top of this page).
• If you are outside Canada, contact the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate responsible for your area.

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.

Payment of fees on-line is the preferred method of payment.

If you do not wish to pay using the Internet, payment must be made at a financial institution in Canada.

You can pay fees:

• online through Pay my application fees in the I Need To… section on the right-hand of this page. Once you have paid your fees online, you must print a receipt of payment form and include it with your application. Be sure to print the actual receipt, not the “payment confirmation form” page. See Payment of fees on the Internet in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page for more information;
• at most banks in Canada. If you use this method, you must get an original receipt of payment (form IMM 5401) to bring with you when you pay. This form is not available online. You must have it mailed to you. See Order a receipt of payment (IMM 5401) in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.

If you live outside Canada and do not have access to the internet, or if your credit card is not compatible with the online payment system, you can make your payment directly to the Canadian consular mission (embassy, high commission or consulate) responsible for your area. The consular mission determines an acceptable method (cheque, money order, cash). The application processing fee is payable in Canadian funds only.

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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Related Links

• Payment of fees on the Internet
• Order a receipt of payment (IMM 5401)