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Application for a citizenship certificate under Section 3 — Proof of citizenship (CIT 0001)

Step 1. Gather documents

What documents are required?

The table below outlines the documents that you need to include with your application. You may also use the Document Checklist (CIT 0460) which you can find in this package to assist you gathering the necessary documentation.

Required step If any of the required documents are missing, or photocopies are not clear, your application may be returned to you.

If this application is for… Then…
your first citizenship certificate provide clear and legible certified copies of your documents
a replacement of your citizenship certificate provide clear and legible photocopies of your documents, unless otherwise stated

Important information Failure to submit the required documents will result in delays in the processing of your application.

Note: Additional documents may be required during the processing of your application.

Citizenship photos

All applicants must send two (2) identical photos.

The photos must have been taken within the last 12 months and are in accordance with the Citizenship Photograph Specifications form (CIT 0021).

Identify the scenario that describes your situation and submit the appropriate supporting documents.

If… Then send the following supporting documents:
you have a certificate of registration of birth abroad (RBA), a citizenship certificate, or you are applying to replace your certificate
  • All original citizenship/naturalization certificate(s) and any pink transmission copies
  • Two (2) pieces of personal identification, such as a driver’s licence and a health insurance card
  • Other documents, such as a marriage certificate/divorce certificate and/or a legal name change certificate (if applicable)
you have never had a citizenship certificate and you were born in Canada
  • A birth certificate issued by the appropriate provincial or territorial authority
  • Two (2) pieces of personal identification, such as a driver’s licence and a health insurance card
  • Other documents, such as a marriage certificate/divorce certificate and/or a legal name change certificate (if applicable)
you were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent on or after January 1, 1947
  • A birth certificate which lists your parents (issued by responsible government authorities in the country where you were born)
  • Proof that one or both of your natural parents were Canadian citizens when you were born
  • Two (2) pieces of personal identification, such as a driver’s licence and a health insurance card
  • Other documents, such as a marriage certificate/divorce certificate and/or a legal name change certificate (if applicable)
you were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent before January 1, 1947
  • A birth certificate which lists your parents (issued by responsible government authorities in the country where you were born)
  • Proof that your natural father (or your natural mother, if your parents were not married before your birth) was a Canadian citizen when you were born, i.e. your parent’s provincial or territorial birth certificate, naturalization certificate or Canadian citizenship certificate
  • Your parent’s marriage certificate, if applicable
  • Two (2) pieces of personal identification, such as a driver’s licence and a health insurance card
  • Other documents, such as a marriage certificate/divorce certificate and/or a legal name change certificate (if applicable)
you were a British subject who lived in Canada for 20 years immediately before 1947
  • A birth certificate issued by responsible government authorities in the country of your birth
  • Two (2) pieces of personal identification, such as a driver’s licence and a health insurance card
  • For women married before 1947: details of your husband’s nationality at the time of your marriage
  • Other documents, such as a marriage certificate/divorce certificate and/or a legal name change certificate (if applicable)
you were a British subject who lived in Canada as a permanent resident for at least 5 years (but less than 20 years) before 1947
  • Your birth certificate issued by responsible government authorities in the country where you were born
  • Proof of admission to Canada as a permanent resident (immigration document or British passport you used when you originally entered Canada if it includes an original entry or admission stamp)
  • Two (2) pieces of personal identification, such as a driver’s licence, and a health insurance card
  • For women married before 1947: details of your husband’s nationality at the time of your marriage
  • Other documents, such as marriage certificate and/or a legal name change certificate (if applicable)
you were a woman who married a Canadian before 1947 and who also entered Canada as a permanent resident before 1947
  • Your birth certificate issued by responsible government authorities in the country where you were born
  • Your marriage certificate
  • Proof of your husband’s Canadian citizenship (e.g. husband’s provincial or territorial birth certificate, naturalization certificate or citizenship certificate)
  • Proof of your admission to Canada as a permanent resident (immigration document or British passport you used when you originally entered Canada if it includes an original entry or admission stamp)
  • Two (2) pieces of personal identification, such as a driver’s licence and a health insurance card
  • Other documents, such as a marriage certificate/divorce certificate and/or a legal name change certificate (if applicable)
you are a woman, Canadian-born or a British subject, who lost her British subject status upon or during marriage before 1947
  • Your birth certificate issued by responsible government authorities in the country where you were born
  • Your marriage certificate
  • Proof of your husband’s foreign nationality at time of marriage or proof of your husband’s naturalization in a foreign country
  • Two (2) pieces of personal identification, such as a driver’s licence, and a health insurance card
  • Other documents, such as a marriage certificate/divorce certificate and/or a legal name change certificate (if applicable)

Name change

The name on your citizenship certificate will be the same as the one shown on your previous citizenship certificate, if you had one, or your birth certificate or your foreign passport unless:

  • you have legally changed it, or
  • you are requesting a different name for your citizenship certificate, and you can provide supporting documents.

Consult the table below to determine the documents that are to be included with your application.

If you… Then you must provide a copy of…
have legally changed your name
  • a provincial legal change of name document, or
  • a provincial adoption order indicating your new name, or
  • if residing outside Canada, a legal change of name document issued by the responsible government authority in your country of residence.
are requesting a name change that is not significant (for example a slight change in spelling)

one of the following that reads exactly the same as the name you are requesting:

  • a provincial health card, or
  • a provincial driver’s licence, or
  • an official school record issued by the provincial department responsible for education, or
  • if residing outside Canada, birth certificate or foreign passport or foreign national identity card.
are requesting a name change that is significant
(more than a slight change in spelling)
  • the documents noted above and
  • linking documents showing the use of both old and new names, or the basis for the change.

Examples of linking documents include:

  • marriage certificate
  • foreign change of name document
  • divorce judgment
  • adoption order or
  • foreign passport showing both names.

Important information No name changes after processing has begun
You cannot request a name change after your application has been submitted. If satisfactory documentation is not provided with the application to support the name requested, the citizenship certificate will reflect the name indicated on your previous citizenship certificate, if you had one, or your birth certificate or your foreign passport.

Date of birth correction

The date of birth on your citizenship certificate will be the same as the one shown on your previous citizenship certificate, if you had one, or your birth certificate or foreign passport unless:

  • for former permanent residents of Canada, you have corrected your date of birth on your immigration document, or
  • you have legally changed it, or
  • you are requesting a different date of birth for your citizenship certificate and you can provide supporting documents.
If… Then you must provide a copy of…
you are a former permanent resident of Canada, and your date of birth has been corrected on your immigration document
  • an approved Request to Amend Immigration Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292)
you have legally changed your date of birth by a provincial/territorial court order
  • provincial/territorial court order changing your date of birth and
  • completed questionnaire Request to Correct a Date of Birth for Citizenship (CIT 0464)*
you are residing outside Canada and you have legally changed your date of birth by court order outside Canada
  • foreign court order changing your date of birth and
  • completed questionnaire Request to Correct a Date of Birth for Citizenship (CIT 0464)*
you did not change your date of birth by a provincial/territorial or foreign court order and you are a former permanent resident and your date of birth has not been corrected on your immigration document
  • a refused Request to Amend Immigration Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292) and
  • completed questionnaire Request to Correct a Date of Birth for Citizenship (CIT 0464)* and
  • documents to support your new date of birth.

*To order this form, contact the National CIC Call Centre, see How to Contact CIC at the end of this instructions guide.

Important information You cannot request a change in your date of birth after your application has been submitted. If satisfactory documentation is not provided with the application to support the date of birth requested, the citizenship certificate will reflect the date of birth indicated on your previous citizenship certificate, if you had one, or your birth certificate or foreign passport.

Important information If you do not have a court order changing your date of birth and you were formerly a permanent resident of Canada, you must first request an amendment to your immigration document before requesting a different date of birth on your citizenship certificate.

Get more information For information on amending your immigration document
Refer to the guide Request to Amend the Immigration Record of Landing or your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 1436).

Quebec government documents

The following documents issued by the government of Quebec before January 1, 1994 are not accepted

  • baptismal certificates
  • birth certificates, and
  • marriage certificates.

Get more information If you are currently in possession of one of these certificates you must obtain a new document by contacting the office of the Directeur de l’état civil du Québec by visiting their website at: www.etatcivil.gouv.qc.ca

Certified true copies

To have a copy certified, an authorized person must compare the original document to the photocopy and must print the following on the photocopy:

  • “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document”;
  • the name of the original document;
  • the date of the certification;
  • his or her name;
  • his or her official position or title;
  • his or her signature.

Who can certify copies?

People authorized to certify copies include the following:

In Canada:

  • a commissioner of oaths
  • a notary public
  • a justice of the peace

Outside Canada:

  • a foreign service officer
  • a judge
  • a magistrate
  • an officer of a court of justice
  • a person authorized to administer oaths in the country in which the person is living

Translated documents

Any document that is not in English or French must be accompanied by

  • the English or French translation, and
  • an affidavit from the person who completed the translation.

Note: An affidavit is a document on which the translator has sworn, in the presence of a person authorized to administer oaths in the country in which the translator is living, that the contents of their translation are a true translation and representation of the contents of the original document.

Important information Translations by family members are not acceptable.

Family member is defined as being a: parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew and first cousin.

Required step
Photographs

You must:

  • provide two (2) identical citizenship photographs;
  • take the Citizenship Photo Specifications form (CIT 0021), included in this guide, to the photographer to make sure you get the correct size photo;
  • follow the steps explained on the form; and
  • do not staple, glue or otherwise attach the photo directly to the application.

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Date Modified: 2009-11-02

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