Guide CIT 0496 - Application to renounce Canadian citizenship (for certain persons who acquired citizenship on April 17, 2009)

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Before you apply
• The application process
• Step 1. Gather documents
• Step 2. Complete the application
• Step 3. Mail the application
• What happens next?
• How to contact CIC

This is not a legal document. For legal information, refer to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations or the Citizenship Act and Regulations, as applicable.

This publication is available in alternative formats upon request.

Overview

Application package

This application package consists of:

• an instruction guide and
• the required forms

The instruction guide is a tool that provides:

• the information you must know about this application before sending it to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and
• assistance with how to fill out the forms and the required supporting documents.

Read the instruction guide thoroughly and then fill out each applicable form.

The forms are specifically designed with questions that will assist in the processing of your application.

Symbols used in this guide

This guide uses the following symbols to indicate information of particular importance.

What you must do to have your application processed.

Important information that you need to be aware of in order to avoid delays or other problems.

Where to get more information.

Note: Tips that will assist you with this application.

The application process

The instructions provided in this guide follow the basic steps you will need to know to complete your application.

Step 1. Gather documents
Step 2. Complete the application
Step 3. Mail the application

Before you apply

Who may use this application

This application is for a person who automatically acquired Canadian citizenship on April 17, 2009, due to an amendment to the Citizenship Act and who wishes to renounce it under section 7.1 of the Citizenship Regulations.

Assessing your eligibility

To renounce your Canadian citizenship using this application you must:

• be a Canadian citizen under paragraph 3(1)(f) or 3 (1)(g) of the Citizenship Act as described below;
• be a citizen of a country other than Canada, or show that you will become a citizen of a country other than Canada, if your application to renounce is approved; and
• understand the significance of renouncing your Canadian citizenship.

A citizen under 3(1)(f)

• was formerly a citizen;
• ceased to be a citizen for any reason other than:
  • renunciation of citizenship under specific provisions of the 1947 Canadian Citizenship Act or renunciation under the current Citizenship Act (1977);
  • revocation of citizenship under specific provisions of the 1947 Act or revocation under the 1977 Act; or
  • failure to retain citizenship under the 1977 Act.
• had not resumed citizenship since its loss and, therefore, became a citizen with the coming into force of this paragraph.

A citizen under 3(1)(g)

• had, before the coming into force of this paragraph, never been a citizen;
• was born:
  • outside Canada in the 1st generation;
  • between January 1, 1947, and February 14, 1977, inclusive.
• at the time of the birth, one of their parents was a Canadian citizen.

What happens if I renounce my Canadian Citizenship?

If you renounce your Canadian citizenship, you lose all the rights and privileges of a Canadian citizen. You must return any Canadian citizenship certificates in your possession. For further inquiries see the “How to contact CIC” section at the end of this guide.

Name change

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

If you have legally changed your name

Then you must submit a copy of the change of name document issued by a Canadian province or territory, or by the appropriate foreign-state authority.

If you have changed your name as a result of marriage, adoption or divorce

Then you must submit a copy of:

• the document showing both names and
• a copy of one document issued by a Canadian province or territory or by an appropriate foreign-state authority.

Example of documents include:

• health insurance card,
• driver’s licence or
• an official school record issued by the provincial or territorial department responsible for education showing that exact name.

If you have applied for an amendment to your Record of Landing, or Confirmation of Permanent Residence

Then you must submit a copy of the amendment or a letter confirming the change of name.

The application process

CIC process: If yes, a renunciation document is prepared and will be sent to you.

CIC process: If no, a letter of explanation will be sent to you. End of process.

Legend

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 0501) which you can find in this package to assist you gathering the necessary documentation.

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

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

Citizenship photo

All applicants must send one (1) photo.

The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months and in accordance with the Citizenship Photograph Specifications page.

Identify the scenario that describes your situation and submit the appropriate supporting documents. Provide clear certified copies of your documents unless otherwise stated.

• If you have a certificate of registration of birth abroad (RBA), a citizenship 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)
  • A valid foreign passport or a document from a foreign government to establish you are or will become a citizen of a country other than Canada
• If 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)
  • A valid foreign passport or a document from a foreign government to establish you are or will become a citizen of a country other than Canada
• If 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)
  • A valid foreign passport or a document from a foreign government to establish you are or will become a citizen of a country other than Canada
• If 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, such as your parent’s provincial or territorial birth certificate or Canadian citizenship certificate
  • Your parent’s marriage certificate
  • 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)
  • A valid foreign passport or document from a foreign government to establish you are or will become a citizen of a country other than Canada
• If you were a British subject who lived in Canada for 20 years immediately before 1947
  • Your 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)
  • A valid foreign passport or a document from a foreign government to establish you are or will become a citizen of a country other than Canada
• If you were a British subject who lived in Canada as a permanent resident for at least 5 years (but less than 20) 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/divorce certificate and/or a legal name change certificate (if applicable)
  • A valid foreign passport or a document from a foreign government to establish you are or will become a citizen of a country other than Canada
• If 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 (such as husband’s provincial or territorial birth 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)
  • A valid foreign passport or a document from a foreign government to establish you are or will become a citizen of a country other than Canada

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.

For 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.

Certified true copies

To have a photocopy of a document 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, and
• his or her signature.

Who can certify copies?

Persons authorized to certify copies include the following:

In Canada:

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

Outside Canada:

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

Family members may not certify copies of your documents.

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. Translators who are certified members in good standing of one of the provincial or territorial organizations of translators and interpreters of Canada do not need to supply an affidavit.

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.

Your application will be returned to you if you do not include the translation of your documents and an affidavit from the translator.

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

Note

Photographs

You must:

• provide two (2) identical citizenship photographs (except Renunciation applications, only one (1) photo is required);
• print the Citizenship Photo Specifications page and take it 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.

Step 2. Complete the application

Filling out the application

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to complete the application form.

The following is the form that must be filled out and submitted:

Application to Renounce Canadian Citizenship – R7.1 (for certain persons who acquired citizenship on April 17, 2009) (CIT 0496) (PDF, 204 KB)

Note. It is a serious offence to give false or misleading information on these forms. The information you provide on your application may be subject to verification.

Important information

Be complete and accurate

Complete all sections. If a section does not apply to you, write “Not Applicable” or “NA”. If your application is incomplete it may be returned to you and this will delay the processing of your application.

If you need more space for any section, print out an additional page containing the appropriate section, complete it and submit it along with your application.

Section 1

Question 1

Would you like to receive service (correspondence, interview) in English or French?

Section 2

Question 2

Check the box to indicate if you ever had a certificate of Canadian citizenship or naturalization. If yes, write your certificate number (if you have one).

You must return any Canadian citizenship certificates in your possession. Failure to do so will result in delays in processing your application.

Note. You must return any Canadian citizenship certificates in your possession. Failure to do so will result in delays in processing your application.

Section 3

Question 3A

Write down your last name (surname/family name) and given name(s).

Question 3B

If you have used other names in the past, or are known by a name other than the one you listed above, write them in the space provided.

Other names can include your:

• birth name,
• nicknames,
• community names, etc.

Note: You can use a separate piece of paper if required.

Section 4

Question 4A

Write your date of birth exactly as it appears on your birth certificate or citizenship certificate. Indicate the place and country where you were born.

Question 4B

Check the box to indicate whether you are a male or female. Include your height, the colour of your eyes, and your legal marital status.

Section 5

Question 5A

Provide your current home address including your postal code.

Question 5B

If your mailing address is different from your home address, include your mailing address with your postal code.

Question 5C

List the phone number(s) where you can be reached.

Section 6

Question 6A

Check the box to indicate if you are a citizen or a national of a country other than Canada. If yes, indicate the name of the country.
 
If no, and you are not a citizen of another country, write the name of the country of which you will become a citizen if your application to renounce Canadian citizenship is approved. Attach proof.

Question 6B

Indicate the reason(s) you wish to renounce your Canadian citizenship.

Section 7

If you are a woman and married before January 1, 1947:

• Write your husband’s surname/last name, given name(s), country and date of birth.
• Write the country in which you were married and the date of your marriage.
• Check the box to indicate if your husband is a Canadian citizen. If yes, check the box to indicate if it was by “birth” or “other”. If you select “other”, provide the details.
• If your husband has a citizenship certificate, write the certificate number and the date he acquired citizenship.

Section 8

You must indicate if you left Canada for 1 year or longer before 1977. If yes, provide the dates you were away, the country of destination and the reason you went to that country.

Section 9

Check the box to indicate if you have ever lived in Canada. If yes, indicate either since birth or the date you first entered to live.

Section 10

• Check the box to indicate the relationship of your parents to you by selecting Natural or Adoptive.
• Print your parents surname/last name, given name(s), date of birth and country of birth.
• Indicate where your parents were married (if applicable), and the date of the marriage.
• Indicate how your parents obtained Canadian citizenship.
• Check the box to indicate whether your parents left Canada for more than one (1) year before 1977. If yes, provide the dates they were away and the country they visited.
• Check the box to indicate if your parents are or were citizens of a country other than Canada. If yes, provide the details including the country, date and how the citizenship was obtained.
• Check the box to indicate if at the time of your birth, your parents were employed in Canada by a foreign government or international agency. If yes, provide details.
• If your parents were born in Canada, check the box to indicate if one of his or her parents was employed by a foreign government or international agency. If yes, provide details.

Section 11

Make sure to read the declaration. Then sign the application with the signature you currently use on other official documents and include the date.

Section 12

The individual, authorized officer of a firm or organization who assisted in the completion of this application must sign and date this section.

Step 3. Mail the application

Where to mail the application

Mail your completed application in a stamped envelope to the address shown below:

Affix sufficient postage (top right of the envelope)

Sender (top left of the envelope)
(Your name)
(Your Address)
(Your Postal Code)

Recipient (centre of the envelope)
Case Processing Centre – Sydney
Renunciation (R7.1)
P.O. Box 12000
SYDNEY, NS  B1P 7C2
CANADA

If you are sending more than one application

If you are sending more than one application (for example, applications for family members), send all applications together in one envelope so that they will be processed together.

Note

Reminders…

• Your application will also be returned to you if it is stale-dated (dated more than 90 days before CIC receives it) or it is post-dated (dated into the future).
• You must be eligible for citizenship the day before you sign the application.
• The application must be signed and dated before it is mailed. If your application is not signed and dated, it will be returned to you.
• Make sure to use the document checklist and include it with your application.

What happens next?

Once your application is received in CPC Sydney

Once your application is received at the Case Processing Centre (CPC Sydney), it will be reviewed and processing will begin.

• If your application is properly completed and you meet the requirements for a renunciation (R7.1)
  • your application is approved and you will receive a document attesting to the renunciation of citizenship.
• If your application is encountering delays and requires more time for processing
  • you will be contacted for more information or asked to supply additional documents
• If your application is from Outside Canada
  • allow sufficient time for your application to be received at the CPC in Sydney, Nova Scotia, as mail service can vary between countries

Important information

Updating your contact information

During the application process, you must advise us of any change of address or telephone number by:

• going to www.cic.gc.ca, selecting Change My Address; or
• contacting the CIC Call Centre.

Checking application status on line

You can check the status of your application on-line by doing the following:

1. Go to the CIC website.
2. Select Check application status.
3. Follow the instructions provided.

Note:  Your application status will only appear on-line once the application is received and the initial review by CIC is completed.

To obtain details on how to remove your application status information from the Internet, visit the “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) section.

Protecting your information

Your personal information is:

• only available to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) employees who need to see it in order to provide the services to you, and
• not disclosed to anyone else except as permitted under the provisions of the Privacy Act.

For more information. You can obtain additional information on the protection of your data by visiting the Help Centre on our website.

Quality Assurance Program

Our quality assurance program randomly selects applications for a special review. If selected you will be asked to attend an interview with a Citizenship and Immigration official so that we can:

• verify the documentation you submitted is accurate,
• verify that your application has been completed properly.

Note: You will be notified in writing should your application be selected.

For more information

Current processing times

Processing time can change. You can obtain current processing times on our website.

How to contact CIC

Within Canada

CIC Call Centre:

1 888 242-2100 (toll-free)

Hours of operation:
Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., your local time

If you are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing, or you have a speech impediment and use a text telephone, you can access the TTY service from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. your local time by calling: 1-888-576-8502 (in Canada only).

Outside Canada

Contact a visa office at a Canadian:

• Embassy,
• High Commission or
• Consulate

Consult the local phone pages or the CIC website for addresses, phone numbers and website addresses.