Fee waiver for reclaiming Indigenous name on identity documents ends soon

Ottawa, May 11, 2026—The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Call to Action 17 calls on governments to support residential school survivors and their families in reclaiming their Indigenous names on identity documents by waiving administrative costs for a period of five years.

In response, in 2021, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a process for Indigenous people, residential school survivors and their families to reclaim their Indigenous names on replacement passports, travel documents, citizenship certificates and permanent resident cards at no cost. The five-year fee waiver for this initiative concludes on May 30, 2026.

After this date, eligible people can update their names on these documents through existing processes, with applicable fees.

Find out more about eligibility and how to apply for each document type:

• Apply for, renew or replace a permanent resident card
• Application for a citizenship certificate for adults and minors
• Name change – reclaiming an Indigenous name – passport and travel documents

The Government of Canada remains committed to supporting Indigenous people in reclaiming and using their traditional names.