See if you may be a citizen

There are a few ways you can become a Canadian citizen without applying to be one. In these cases, you may still want to get proof of citizenship.

There are also times when you might think you became a citizen, but you did not. In those cases, you may be eligible to apply for citizenship.

You’re likely a Canadian citizen if you 

You likely aren’t a Canadian citizen if you

  • were born in Canada to foreign diplomats
  • had your citizenship taken away (revoked)
  • renounced your Canadian citizenship and never applied to get it back

You aren’t automatically a Canadian citizen if you

To find out if you might have a claim to Canadian citizenship, use our Am I a Canadian? tool.

Applying for proof of Canadian citizenship is the formal way to find out if you’re a citizen. We don’t refund fees, even if you apply for proof of citizenship and find out you aren’t a citizen.

You keep your citizenship if you were a Canadian citizen the day before the 2009 and 2015 changes to the law came into effect.

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