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Citizenship

What are the requirements for becoming a Canadian citizen?

To become a Canadian citizen, you must

Depending on your situation, there may be additional requirements.

Find out if you’re eligible

What is dual citizenship?

Every country decides whom it considers to be a citizen. If more than one country recognizes you as a citizen, you have dual citizenship.

You don’t apply for dual citizenship, and there is no related certificate. Canadians are allowed to take foreign citizenship while keeping their Canadian citizenship.

Ask the embassy of your country of citizenship about its rules before applying for Canadian citizenship.

For more information

Do I become a Canadian citizen when I marry a Canadian?

No. Marrying a Canadian citizen doesn’t give you citizenship.

If you want to become a Canadian citizen, you must follow the same steps as everyone else. There isn’t a special process for spouses of Canadian citizens.

You must meet several requirements to apply for citizenship. You must be physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days during the 5 years right before the date you applied. This includes time as a

Your Canadian spouse can sponsor you to become a permanent resident if you

You may apply for citizenship if you

There are different rules to determine if children of Canadians born outside Canada have Canadian citizenship.

For more information

Application processing times

I’m Canadian, but my child was born outside Canada. Are they Canadian?

Your child is likely a Canadian citizen if at least 1 parent (legal parent at birth [opens in a new tab] or biological parent)

To find out for sure, apply for a citizenship certificate for your child.

Your child is not automatically a Canadian citizen if they’re an adopted child born outside Canada.

Naturalization (grant of citizenship)

The formal process by which a person who isn’t a Canadian citizen can become a Canadian citizen.

The person must usually

  • become a permanent resident first
  • get their citizenship at a citizenship ceremony

Can I count any time I’ve spent outside of Canada toward the physical presence requirement when applying for citizenship?

The time you spend outside of Canada doesn’t count toward your physical presence requirement, except in some cases.

You can count time spent outside Canada toward the physical presence requirement for citizenship if you:

This doesn’t include employment as a locally engaged person.

The physical presence requirement only uses time after:

Use the online physical presence calculator. Complete and submit the CIT 0177 Residence Outside Canada form when you apply. We’ll decide if we can count the time you lived outside Canada.

The travel journal is an easy way to record your time outside Canada. It will help you fill out the physical presence calculator or the Residence Outside Canada form.

Do I have to use the travel journal?

No, using the travel journal is optional. You don’t need to submit it with your application.

When you apply for a permanent resident card or citizenship, you need to be able to tell us about all your trips outside Canada during certain periods of time. We created the travel journal to help record the dates and destinations of your trips.

If I’m applying for citizenship, do I still have to submit the physical presence calculator if I submit the travel journal?

Yes, you must always submit one of the following physical presence calculators with adult, and some minor, citizenship applications:

An application without the physical presence calculator is incomplete, and we’ll return it to you.

You don’t need to submit the travel journal with your application. It’s for your personal use only, to help you complete the physical presence calculator.

If I’m transferring through different countries at the airport, or by car or train, do I need to record it in my travel journal?

If you don’t leave the airport during your stop, then you don’t need to record that country in your travel journal.

If you leave the airport, even if it’s only for a couple of hours, you should record the date and destination in the travel journal.

If you’re traveling by car or train, you’ll need to record dates and destinations of the countries you passed through.

How do I get more copies of the travel journal?

You can print more copies of the travel journal.

What is a non-routine application?

We consider your application non-routine if:

We also consider your citizenship application non-routine if you:

For more information

Can I get my citizenship application processed urgently?

Yes, we can process applications for citizenship services urgently in some situations.

The application process depends on the service you are applying for.

We’ll review your application to see if it qualifies. Even if you qualify, we can’t guarantee we’ll process your application urgently.

My citizenship application is being processed. How will the 2017 legislation changes affect my application?

If we received your completed application before October 11, 2017, then only some of the changes will apply to you.

Language and knowledge requirements

If you were a minor (an applicant between 14 and 17 years of age at the time you applied) you won’t need to meet language requirements or take a knowledge test.

If you were between 18 and 54 years old when you applied, you will still need to meet the language requirement and pass a knowledge test.

If you were between 55 and 64 years old when you applied, you won’t need to meet language requirements or take a knowledge test.

If you have received a notice to appear for a knowledge test or language assessment, IRCC will be contacting you about the next steps in your application.

Time spent in Canada

The changes to the amount of time you must be physically present in Canada do not apply to you. You must meet the physical presence requirements that were in place at the time you submitted your application.

I hired a representative before June 11, 2015 and my citizenship application is still in process. Can they continue to act as my representative?

Yes. As long as your citizenship application was received and deemed complete before June 11, 2015, any person who is advising or representing you can continue throughout the duration of that specific application (or until four years has passed).

Who can represent me on my citizenship application?

If your citizenship application is received after June 10, 2015, any paid representatives you may have hired must be authorized to do so. This would include members of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council, lawyers or notaries including paralegals and students at law.

How much does it cost to apply for Canadian citizenship?

View our application fees list for adults and children under 18.

I am a citizen of another country. Will I lose that citizenship if I become a Canadian?

Under Canadian law, you can be both a Canadian citizen and a citizen of another country.

However, some countries won’t let you keep their citizenship if you become a Canadian citizen.

The consulate or embassy of your other country of citizenship can tell you whether this applies to you.

What are the requirements for the photos I need to include with my citizenship application?

You must provide two citizenship photos taken within the last 6 months. Take the Citizenship Photograph Specifications form, included in the application kit, to the photographer to make sure that your photos are the right size.

Can I leave Canada after I mail my citizenship application?

Yes. You can leave Canada after we receive your application.

If you need to leave Canada and want to stay eligible for Canadian citizenship, you must:

Make sure your PR card won’t expire while you are outside Canada.

We usually only mail letters, notices and other documents to addresses in Canada. In some cases, you may receive an email from us. You must reply to these letters or emails within a specified amount of time. If you don’t reply within the time frame and don’t provide an acceptable reason for not being able to keep your appointment with us or providing requested information, we may stop processing your application.

You must attend appointments and other events at our offices, like your:

These events only take place in Canada. If you can’t attend the appointment or event, you must either e-mail or write to the local office that sent you the event notice. You can also use the online web form to contact us.

What if I cannot attend my citizenship appointment with IRCC? Can I reschedule it?

Due to COVID-19, we cancelled

  • all in-person citizenship tests
    • We’re now inviting some applicants to take the citizenship test online.
    • If you can’t or don’t want to do the online test, you may wait until in-person tests resume (date to be determined).
  • most retests, interviews and hearings (including videoconference hearings)
    • Wait for us to contact you.
    • If you need to change your appointment, contact the office that sent the invitation.
      • The contact information is in the letter we sent.

Yes. If you are not available on the date and time of your appointment, write us a letter of explanation. Send this letter to the IRCC office that scheduled your original appointment. You can send this letter by mail, or online, using this Web form. We will reschedule your appointment on a different date.

If you do not attend your appointment, you must contact us within a certain amount of time. The notice we sent you inviting you to the appointment will tell you when you must contact us. Use this Web form and tell us why you missed your appointment. If you do not contact us in time, we will close your application. You will have to apply again and pay the required fees.

Where can I find out the status of my citizenship application and the processing time?

To check the status of your application, you can:

Find out more about improvements to our processing times and reducing the backlog.

What does my status mean when I check my citizenship application status?

When you check your application status for your citizenship grant application, you’ll see one of these status updates:

Received

“Received” means your application is ready to be processed and you:

  • answered all the questions on the form
  • sent all the required documents
  • paid the fees

It may be several weeks between when we get your application and it’s ready to be processed.

In process

“In process” means we started processing your application.

While your application is in process, we’ll invite you to the citizenship test, if you need to take it, interview, and hearing if you need one.

If we need more information from you before we make a decision, we’ll contact you.

Decision made

“Decision made” means we either approved or refused your application. A citizenship official makes a decision on your application after the test, if you had to take it, interview, and hearing, if you had one.

If we approved your application, you passed the citizenship test, if you had to take it, and meet all the requirements for citizenship. We’ll send you an invitation to take the Oath of Citizenship at a citizenship ceremony. You must continue to meet all of the requirements for citizenship until you take the Oath at the ceremony. We can change the decision if your situation changes and you no longer meet the requirements.

If we refused your application, you don’t meet the requirements for citizenship. We’ll send you a letter by registered mail explaining why.

How do I withdraw my application for citizenship services?

First, find out if you can get a refund. If you still wish to withdraw your application, send a request by mail.

Write “Withdrawal of Application” on the envelope. Send us:

We recommend that you keep a copy of the withdrawal form for your records.

Where to mail the application

If you sent your application to a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate, mail your withdrawal request there.

If you sent your application to CPC-Sydney and your application has not yet been transferred to a local IRCC office, mail your withdrawal request to:

If your application has been transferred to a local IRCC office, mail your withdrawal request to that office. You will find contact information for the office processing your application on the letter we sent you.

If you do not know if your application has been transferred or which office is processing your application, contact us through this Web form.

What can I do if my citizenship application is refused?

You can apply for Canadian citizenship again. This new application must include all the required forms and documents, including a new application fee. There is no waiting period before you can reapply. However, you should make sure you meet the requirements for Canadian citizenship before you reapply.

If your citizenship application is refused, you may also seek judicial review of the decision by the Federal Court of Canada. This is not an appeal of the decision. You have thirty (30) days from the date on the refusal letter to apply.

My application has been returned because it’s incomplete. Do I have to recalculate my physical presence (time lived in Canada)?

You don’t have to sign or date your physical presence calculation (your printout of the Online Physical Presence Calculator or form CIT 0407).

Check the letter we send with your incomplete application. It tells you if you have to recalculate your physical presence.

You must recalculate your physical presence if your application was returned because

Make sure the application date on the application form and the calculator printout are the same.

What to do if we return your incomplete application.

Do I need to ask the Canada Border Services Agency for a history of entries when applying for citizenship?

No. Provide consent by checking the “Yes” box for question 14B “Have you held travel documents and or passports during your eligibility period” on your citizenship application. This will give us permission to get your history of entries from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). It will also take less time than you asking the CBSA for your history.

We use your history of entries to make sure that you have been in Canada long enough to qualify for citizenship.

If you do not provide consent by checking the “Yes” box, you may be asked to send a request for personal information to the CBSA to get your history of entries. Doing this may make the time to process your application longer than the routine processing times for citizenship.

What happens if I check “Yes” on Question 14B (“Consent to the CBSA and IRCC”) on the application for citizenship?

When you check “Yes”, you are giving us permission to get your history of entries from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). We need this information to process your citizenship application.

You must check this box because one government department cannot share your personal information with another department without your permission. If you do not check the “Yes” box, you may be asked to request your history from the CBSA and then send it to us. This process takes longer and may make your application take longer than the routine processing times for citizenship.

Can I submit an old version of the application form for Canadian citizenship?

It depends on the application and how old the form is.

Use the form dated October 2020 or later for the following applications:

Use the form dated October 2017 or later for the following applications:

The newest version is always available in your application package.

You can find the version date on the bottom left corner of the form. For example, “CIT 0002 (01-2019)” means the version date is January 2019.

If you submitted a form older than October 2020 or 2017

If you used the correct form and we returned the application to you as incomplete, you

Who has to take the citizenship test?

Everyone between the ages of 18 and 54 at the time they apply for citizenship must take the citizenship test. We use the test to determine if you have adequate knowledge of Canada and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.

If you are 55 or older when you apply, you do not have to take the test. If you turn 55 during the processing of your application, you still have to take the test since you were under 55 when you signed your application.

Is the citizenship test difficult?

The citizenship test covers the range of topics and subjects found in the citizenship study guide entitled Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship. You should study this guide to prepare for the test. On the test, you can expect to see questions that ask about:

Does the study guide have sample questions to help me prepare for the citizenship test?

Yes, you can find study questions for the citizenship test in Discover Canada.

After I apply for citizenship, how long will it be before I write the citizenship test?

Due to COVID-19, we cancelled

  • all in-person citizenship tests
    • We’re now inviting some applicants to take the citizenship test online.
    • If you can’t or don’t want to do the online test, you may wait until in-person tests resume (date to be determined).
  • most retests, interviews and hearings (including videoconference hearings)
    • Wait for us to contact you.
    • If you need to change your appointment, contact the office that sent the invitation.
      • The contact information is in the letter we sent.

The time between submitting your application and writing the citizenship test can be different for everyone. It depends on your case and on our processing times.

We will mail you a notice letting you know the time and location of your test. This is your official confirmation that you will be taking the citizenship test.

Check your application status to see when we mailed your notices.

If you move to a new address, you must tell us. Update your address online.

If you need urgent processing, check to see if you qualify.

Can I reschedule my citizenship test if I cannot attend it?

Yes. If you are not available on the date and time of your citizenship test, the notice inviting you to the test will tell you how to contact us to reschedule it.

Learn more about what to do if you miss your citizenship test.

Can I bring my child to the citizenship test?

No, only the person scheduled for the test can be in the testing room. However, children can wait in the area outside the testing room if they are with a caregiver at all times.

You can’t leave your child alone in the waiting area to wait for you. If you have a child, plan to have someone care for them while you take your test. If you can’t arrange child care, let us know and we’ll reschedule your test date.

What should I do if I missed my citizenship test?

Due to COVID-19, we cancelled

  • all in-person citizenship tests
    • We’re now inviting some applicants to take the citizenship test online.
    • If you can’t or don’t want to do the online test, you may wait until in-person tests resume (date to be determined).
  • most retests, interviews and hearings (including videoconference hearings)
    • Wait for us to contact you.
    • If you need to change your appointment, contact the office that sent the invitation.
      • The contact information is in the letter we sent.

The steps you should take if you did not attend your citizenship test depend on if we sent you:

I was sent my first notice to write the test

If this was the first time you were asked to write the test, you can:

Contact us

You have 30 days from the test date to contact us and let us know why you missed the test. Write us a letter explaining why you missed the test. Send this letter to the IRCC office that scheduled your original appointment. You can send this letter by mail or online, using this Web form.

The local office handling your application will decide if you have a valid reason for missing the test.

If your reason is valid, we will send you another notice with a new test date. (We will consider this new notice as another first notice in case you miss this new date, but have a valid reason for not attending.)

If your reason is not valid, we will treat you the same as someone who missed the test and did not contact us. (See “Be rescheduled automatically” below.)

Be rescheduled automatically

We will automatically reschedule you for a new date to write the test if you did not attend the test and you:

We will send you a new notice telling you the new test date. This will be your final notice to write the exam.

This new test date will usually be two weeks or more after the date of the test you missed.

I received a final notice to write the test, but I missed it

You must contact us within 30 days of the test date if you:

The notice inviting you to the new test date will tell you how to contact us.

The local office handling your application will decide if you have a valid reason for missing the test.

If your reason is valid, we will send you another final notice with a new test date.

We may close your application for citizenship if:

You will have to apply for citizenship again and pay the required fees.

You failed the test and were scheduled for a second test

You must contact us within 30 days of the test date if you:

The notice inviting you to the re-write the test will tell you how to contact us.

The local office handling your application will decide if you have a valid reason for missing the test.

If your reason is valid, we will send you a new notice to re-write the test.

We may close your application for citizenship if:

You will have to apply for citizenship again and pay the required fees.

When do I know if I passed the citizenship test?

Due to COVID-19, we cancelled

  • all in-person citizenship tests
    • We’re now inviting some applicants to take the citizenship test online.
    • If you can’t or don’t want to do the online test, you may wait until in-person tests resume (date to be determined).
  • most retests, interviews and hearings (including videoconference hearings)
    • Wait for us to contact you.
    • If you need to change your appointment, contact the office that sent the invitation.
      • The contact information is in the letter we sent.

We will give you the results of your test right after you take it.

If you pass and meet the others requirements for citizenship, we may give you a citizenship ceremony date at the same time we give you the results. If we do not, we will mail you a letter with the date and time of your ceremony. You will receive this letter two to four weeks before the ceremony. The ceremony will normally take place within six months after you pass the test.

If you do not pass the exam the first time, you can write it again. If you pass the second time, we will either give you the date or mail you a letter, just like we would have if you have passed the first exam.

If you are asked to attend a hearing with a citizenship officer or a citizenship judge, we will send you a letter after the hearing. This letter will tell you if the officer or the judge has decided to grant you citizenship and, if so, the date of your ceremony.

What happens if I fail the written citizenship test?

Due to COVID-19, we cancelled

  • all in-person citizenship tests
    • We’re now inviting some applicants to take the citizenship test online.
    • If you can’t or don’t want to do the online test, you may wait until in-person tests resume (date to be determined).
  • most retests, interviews and hearings (including videoconference hearings)
    • Wait for us to contact you.
    • If you need to change your appointment, contact the office that sent the invitation.
      • The contact information is in the letter we sent.

If you do not pass the written test, but you meet the other criteria for citizenship, we will schedule you for a second test. This second test will usually take place 4-8 weeks after your first test, but the delay may be longer. If you are not available to take the test on that date, you must let us know.

If you do not pass the second test, we will send you a notice telling you to appear for a hearing with a citizenship officer. During this hearing, the citizenship officer may assess whether you meet all the requirements for citizenship. During an oral interview, the citizenship officer may:

If you are asked to attend an interview, but applied for citizenship with your family by sending your applications in the same envelope, your application will be processed separately from your family's unless you want them to be processed together.

What if I cannot attend my hearing with a citizenship officer or a citizenship judge? Can I reschedule it?

Due to COVID-19, we cancelled

  • all in-person citizenship tests
    • We’re now inviting some applicants to take the citizenship test online.
    • If you can’t or don’t want to do the online test, you may wait until in-person tests resume (date to be determined).
  • most retests, interviews and hearings (including videoconference hearings)
    • Wait for us to contact you.
    • If you need to change your appointment, contact the office that sent the invitation.
      • The contact information is in the letter we sent.

Yes. If you are not available on the date and time to meet with a citizenship officer or a citizenship judge as part of your application for citizenship, you must inform the office where you have been scheduled to appear. You will also be required to provide the reason why you are unable to attend.

The notice asking you to appear will contain the details of:

Your notice will come either by e-mail (to the address provided by you on your application form) or by paper notice in the regular mail.

What happens after the hearing with a citizenship officer to test my knowledge of Canada?

Due to COVID-19, we cancelled

  • all in-person citizenship tests
    • We’re now inviting some applicants to take the citizenship test online.
    • If you can’t or don’t want to do the online test, you may wait until in-person tests resume (date to be determined).
  • most retests, interviews and hearings (including videoconference hearings)
    • Wait for us to contact you.
    • If you need to change your appointment, contact the office that sent the invitation.
      • The contact information is in the letter we sent.

The hearing will last 30 to 90 minutes. At the hearing, the citizenship officer will ask you questions orally to see if you meet the conditions of citizenship, including knowledge of Canada. After your hearing, we will send you a letter with the results.

If you passed the interview, the letter will tell you the date of your citizenship ceremony.

Not passing the interview will cause your application for citizenship to be refused.

How long will I wait between my citizenship test and the ceremony?

Due to COVID-19, we

In most cases, the ceremony takes place within three months after you pass the test. We'll give you the results of your test right after you take it.

If your application is non-routine, we may ask you to go to a hearing with a citizenship officer or judge, even after you pass the test. We'll send you a letter after the hearing to let you know:

Can I bring my child to the citizenship ceremony?

Due to COVID-19, we

Yes, your child is welcome to come to the ceremony, even if they aren’t becoming a citizen.

Children age 14 and over must go to the citizenship ceremony and take the oath if they’re becoming citizens. Parents will get certificates of citizenship for their children under age 14.

You need to stay in the room for the entire ceremony. If you’re bringing a young child, also bring a guest with you who can take care of your child in case they get restless and need to leave the ceremony room. If you can’t arrange child care, let us know and we’ll reschedule your ceremony date.

What does “adequate knowledge” of English or French mean when applying for citizenship?

The Citizenship Act requires that citizenship applicants have “an adequate knowledge of one of the official languages of Canada.” Canada’s two official languages are English and French.

We define “adequate knowledge” as having a Level 4 speaking and listening ability. To measure your ability, we use the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC). This level means you can, in English or French:

For more information

How do you measure how well I can speak English or French when applying for citizenship?

To measure if you have adequate knowledge of English or French we use:

You must reach CLB/NCLC Level 4 or higher to get Canadian citizenship.

CLB/NCLC is the official standard used in Canada to describe, measure and recognize how well adult immigrants can communicate in their second language. We use this standard to make sure we evaluate everyone the same way.

The ways we measure how well you can speak and listen in English or French include:

Using the CLB/NCLC, a citizenship officer will make the final decision if you have adequate knowledge of English or French.

What language level do I need when I apply for citizenship?

If you are between the ages of 18 and 54 on the date you sign your application, you must meet the Canadian Language Benchmarks Level 4 (CLB 4) or higher in speaking and listening.

This means to become a Canadian citizen you must show that you have an adequate knowledge of English or French by providing, with your citizenship application, proof that you can speak and listen in English or French at CLB/NCLC 4 level or higher.

Learn how we measure your ability to speak and listen in English or French using CLB/NCLC.

What documents can I use to prove that I meet the citizenship language requirement?

You can send us one of a number of different documents to show that you meet the language requirement, including:

For information on other forms of proof accepted, see:

You need to reach level 4 or higher to apply for citizenship. We use your documents to determine if you have reached this level for speaking and listening in English or French.

We will review the language proof you send us. We won’t process your application and will return it to you if your proof:

What third-party language tests will you accept as proof I have adequate knowledge of English or French when I apply for citizenship?

A third-party test is a test done by an organization that isn’t Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

We accept third-party test results as proof of your language ability from organizations including:

We will accept tests that you previously submitted for immigration purposes to Quebec, including:

We don’t accept any other third-party test results, even if they’re similar.

Visit each organization’s website to learn how to write the exams. Since we don’t run them, we don’t track when and where they’re offered.

In some cases, you may send test results that you already sent to us or the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI). We’ll accept the test results that you sent with your application for:

See the complete list of acceptable documents.

I graduated from an English-or French-language high school/college/university. What can I use to show that I can communicate in one of the official languages when I apply for citizenship?

You may send a transcript, diploma or certificate showing that you graduated from a secondary school or from a post-secondary program in Canada or abroad. These materials must show that the program was in English or French. A single course in an official language is not enough to meet this requirement.

See the complete list of acceptable documents.

Can I use the government-funded language program I took to prove that I meet the citizenship language requirement?

Yes, you can use a federal or provincial language program to prove that you meet the language requirement for your citizenship application.

Federal language program

When you submit your citizenship application, you need to include a language certificate from a

Your results for speaking and listening skills must be equal to either a language level 4 or higher of the

If you did your training

Provincial language program

We also accept results from language programs in

Submit a certificate or report card from the program. It must show that you completed the training at a CLB/NCLC level 4 or higher (or equivalent).

See the complete list of acceptable documents if you apply as

Can I provide my LINC/CLIC placement test as a proof that I meet the citizenship language requirement?

No. You must provide evidence that you have reached CLB/NCLC 4 or higher in speaking and listening as part of a LINC/CLIC course to meet the language ability requirement for your citizenship. A placement test done by a LINC/CLIC assessment center is not accepted as evidence.

I’ve lost my certificate or transcript showing I meet the citizenship language requirement. What can I do?

If you have lost your certificate, most third-party testing bodies and provincially-funded language training programs will send you a copy of your certificate. Contact the organization where you completed the language training or testing.

Can I submit the results from a third-party language test that I took when I first applied to immigrate to Canada as proof I meet the citizenship language requirement?

Yes. You may send the same third-party language test results from your immigration application with your application for citizenship. There is no expiration date for third-party language test results for citizenship applicants.

Do you accept certificates from private language schools as proof I meet the citizenship language requirement?

No. If you have taken private language classes, those classes are not enough to prove that you speak French or English well enough to apply for Canadian citizenship. You must take an IRCC-approved third-party language test. If you achieve CLB/NCLC 4 or above on this test, submit the results with your citizenship application.

I’ve lost my citizenship card/certificate. How do I replace it?

If your card or certificate was stolen, report the theft to your local police department.

If you don’t plan to apply for a replacement for at least 6 weeks after the loss or theft

Replacing your citizenship card

We stopped giving citizenship cards and the commemorative certificates in February 2012. We won’t send you a new card or replace a commemorative certificate.

To replace a lost or stolen card, you need to apply for a citizenship certificate (8½ x 11 paper certificate).

Replacing your citizenship certificate

You need to apply for a citizenship certificate if yours was stolen or lost.

Other documents we accept as proof of citizenship

Find out which other documents you can use to prove your Canadian citizenship.

What documents should I send with my application for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship)?

The Document checklist [CIT 0014] (PDF, 0.99 MB) explains

Do not send birth certificates or marriage certificates issued by the Government of Quebec before January 1, 1994. For more information, contact the Directeur de l’état civil du Québec.

If your documents aren’t in English or French, send us a

Can I replace my citizenship certificate if there is a spelling or other mistake on it?

Yes. We will replace your citizenship certificate if:

  1. we made a mistake in processing it, and
  2. it has been 90 days or less since you received your citizenship certificate

You must resubmit an application for a citizenship certificate and pay the processing fee if it has been more than 90 days since:

You must also follow this process to replace your citizenship certificate for another reason.

We have stopped issuing citizenship cards

As of February 1, 2012, the citizenship certificate replaced the plastic wallet sized citizenship card as proof of citizenship. We no longer give out citizenship cards or the commemorative certificates that came with them. If you apply to update or replace your citizenship card, we will send you a citizenship certificate.

How to request a replacement if there is a mistake on your certificate

If it has been 90 days or less since you received your citizenship certificate, send us:

We will replace your certificate free of charge.

Where to mail your request

If you live in Canada or the United States, mail your request to:

If you live outside Canada and the United States, send your request to the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate responsible for your region.

If your request is not approved

If your request for a replacement certificate is not approved (e.g., if it was determined that a processing error was not made), we will return your documents to you. We will also explain why we did not approve your request.

How do I get a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship) for someone under 18 years old?

You

I legally changed my name. How do I change the name on my citizenship certificate/card?

To change the name on your citizenship certificate:

If you need to change your name on a plastic citizenship card, you must also apply for a citizenship certificate. We stopped issuing citizenship cards in February 2012. If your application is approved, you will receive an updated citizenship certificate instead.

How do I fill out my application for a citizenship certificate if I don’t know everything about my parents or grandparents?

If you don’t know the information we ask for on the form, enter ‘unknown’ in the spaces provided. If it doesn’t apply to your parents or grandparents, enter ‘not applicable’ or ‘NA’.

We collect information about your parents and your grandparents, because it helps us:

If we don’t have enough information about your parents or grandparents, your application may be delayed and/or we may not be able to assess your claim.

What is a hearing conducted by videoconference?

A hearing conducted by videoconference is the same as an in-person hearing except you speak to an IRCC official or Citizenship judge through one of our computers in an IRCC office. An IRCC official will be with you to make sure you can see and hear the interviewer properly. We use videoconferences so you have your hearing as quickly as possible.

Prepare for a videoconference hearing the same way that you would any other hearing. Review your Notice to Appear to make sure you bring everything you need. You do not need to bring any computer equipment of your own.

I sent a citizenship application for a minor under subsection 5(1) and paid $530. Will I get a refund?

On February 14, 2018, the fee for minors applying under subsection 5(1) was reduced from $530 to $100.

Yes. If a citizenship application for a minor under subsection 5(1) was made on or after June 19, 2017, the person who paid the $530 fee will get a refund of $430.

How will you refund the fee for my citizenship application for a minor under subsection 5(1)?

On February 14, 2018, the fee for minors applying under subsection 5(1) was reduced from $530 to $100.

The refund is automatic. You don’t need to apply for it. We’ll contact you directly if you submitted your application and paid the original fee. The person who paid the fee will get the refund.

If you paid the fee with a credit card, we’ll refund the $430 to the card used to pay the fee. If the card is expired or no longer valid, we’ll send you a cheque.

If you paid the fee with an online debit card, we’ll send you a cheque.

We’re committed to making the refunds within 12 weeks of February 14, 2018. If you don’t receive your refund by then, contact us.

I paid the $530 fee for a citizenship application for a minor under subsection 5(1), but didn’t send in my application. What do I do?

On February 14, 2018, the fee for minors applying under subsection 5(1) was reduced from $530 to $100.

If you paid the $530, but haven’t submitted your application yet, then you may request a refund for the fee. To request a refund, follow the instructions for those who paid online and applied on paper.

When you submit your application, you’ll need to pay the $100 fee. See pay your fees.

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