CIT 0302 - Application to Renounce Canadian Citizenship under Subsection 9(1)
Table of Contents
This is not a legal document. The explanations and definitions are not legal definitions. In case of a discrepancy between the language in this document and the relevant legislation or regulations, the legal text in the legislation and regulations prevails.
For legal information, see the:
This information will help you complete the forms and guide you through the application process.
Overview
This application is for an adult Canadian citizen who wishes to renounce their Canadian citizenship. To renounce your Canadian citizenship you must prove you are a Canadian citizen. You must also prove that you are, or will become a citizen of a country other than Canada, if this application to renounce is approved.
Note: If you acquired or reacquired Canadian citizenship as a result of changes to the Citizenship Act that took effect on April 17, 2009, you may be eligible to apply to renounce your citizenship under section 7.1 of the Citizenship Regulations. See the guide Application to Renounce Canadian Citizenship for certain persons who acquired citizenship on April 17, 2009 (R7.1).
Why you need to read this guide?
This guide provides all of the instructions necessary to complete this application. As a result of reading the guide, you should be able to:
- complete the application form, and
- determine what supporting documents need to be included.
What happens if I renounce my Canadian Citizenship?
If you renounce your Canadian citizenship, you lose all the rights and privileges of being a Canadian citizen and will have no status in Canada. This means that if you wish to return to Canada permanently, you will have to apply for a permanent resident visa. If you wish to return to Canada temporarily (to visit, work or study), you will have to apply for a temporary resident visa, if applicable.
Before you apply
Read the instructions carefully. They contain important information. Be sure you are eligible to apply before you submit your application. There is no refund of the processing fee.
What are the requirements?
To be eligible to renounce your Canadian citizenship, you must:
- be a Canadian citizen;
- prove that you are or that you will become a citizen of a country other than Canada if your application to renounce is approved;
- not live in Canada;
- be at least 18 years old;
- not be a threat to Canada’s security or part of a pattern of criminal activity; and
- understand the significance of renouncing your Canadian citizenship.
Note: The Minister has the discretion to waive some of the requirements aforementioned for compassionate reasons.
Who cannot apply to renounce Canadian citizenship?
You are not eligible to renounce your Canadian citizenship if Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has begun the process of revoking your citizenship under section 10 or 10.1 of the Act. This measure will stay in effect until IRCC informs you of the decision on the revocation.
What you must send with your application
Refer to the Document Checklist (CIT 0402) (opens in new tab) to assist you in gathering the necessary documentation.
You need to provide clear and easy-to-read colour copies of your documents, unless otherwise stated.
Note: If any of the required documents are missing, or the photocopies are of poor quality, your application may be returned to you.
Name change
Consult the information below to determine the documents that are to be included with your application.
If you have legally changed your name within Canada
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. The document must show both your previous and amended names.
The following documents are accepted:
- Legal change of name document
- Court order specifying name change
- Adoption order
The following documents are accepted for changes to family name only:
- Marriage certificate
- Divorce decree
- Registration or declaration of union issued by civil authorities
- Revocation of declaration or annulment of union issued by civil authorities
- Registration for common-law relationship, in provinces that permit changes of name for common-law relationships under their provincial/territorial law
If you have legally changed your name outside Canada and are residing in Canada
Then you must provide a copy of the following documents:
- A foreign passport or other national authoritative documentation amended to reflect the new name;
- A document that links your previous name to your new name, such as a foreign marriage certificate (with an official translation); and
- A document in the new name from Canadian provinces or territories (ex. driver's licence, health card, age of majority card, senior citizen’s identification card, or social service card)
If you have legally changed your name outside Canada and are residing outside Canada
Then you must provide a copy of the following documents:
- a foreign passport or other national authoritative documentation amended to reflect the new name;
- a document that links your previous name to your new name, such as a foreign marriage certificate (with an official translation) or other foreign legal change of name document issued by foreign authorities; and
- an authoritative national or state/province (or equivalent) issued photo identification document issued in the country or state/province in which you reside that displays the new name, such as:
- a foreign passport or other travel documents, if you are a dual citizen;
- a state/provincial (or equivalent) identification card.
If you have applied and obtained an amendment to your Record of Landing, or Confirmation of Permanent Residence due to errors made by Canadian immigration officials when recording your name, then you must submit a copy of the amendment or a letter confirming the change of name.
Important information: Once processing of your application has begun a name change can only be made due to an administrative error made by the Department, or a legal change of name.
Important information: You cannot request a change of an adopted person’s name after Part 2 of the application has been submitted.
If satisfactory documentation is not provided with the application to support the request for a change of name, the name that appears on the citizenship certificate will be the name listed on the adoption order.
Gender change
If you need to change the gender on your citizenship certificate or would like to use a different gender than the one on your immigration document, complete and submit the Request form for a Change of Sex or Gender Identifier (IRM 0002) (opens in new tab) with your application.
Translation of documents
You must include the following along with any document that is not in English or French:
- the English or French translation; and
- an affidavit from the person who completed the translation (if they are not a certified translator).
Translations may be done by:
- a person who is fluent in both languages (English or French, and the unofficial language); or
- a Canadian certified translator (a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial organization of translators and interpreters in Canada).
If the translation isn’t done by a Canadian certified translator, the person who completed the translation must provide an affidavit swearing to their language proficiency and the accuracy of the translation.
The affidavit must be sworn in the presence of:
In Canada:
Authority to certify varies by province and territory. Consult your local provincial or territorial authorities.
Outside of Canada:
- a notary public
Authority to administer oaths varies by country. Consult your local authorities.
Important information: Translations must not be done by the applicants themselves nor by members of the applicant’s family. This includes a parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew and first cousin.
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 where 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 in Canada don’t need to supply an affidavit.
Documents issued in Quebec
Baptismal certificates, birth certificates, and marriage certificates issued in Quebec before January 1, 1994, are no longer accepted. If you have one of these certificates, you must obtain a new document. This can be done by contacting the office of the Directeur de l’état civil du Québec.
Note: Additional documents may be required during the processing of your application.
Failure to include the necessary documents (for example: two pieces of identification) will result in delays in processing your application.
Note
Photographs
You must:
- provide one (1) citizenship photograph;
- 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
- not staple, glue or otherwise attach the photo directly to the application.
Citizenship fees
Your fees
Use the table below to calculate the total amount of fees to be paid. Fees must be included with this application.
| Application (per person) | $CAN |
|---|---|
| Renounce your citizenship | $100 |
Explanation of fees and refunds
The following table describes the fees that are required and if they are refundable. All payment must be made in Canadian funds.
Processing Fee
Amount: $100 for each person
Non-refundable once processing has begun, regardless of the final decision.
Payment Issues
No fee included or insufficient fees
If you do not pay the full fees for your application(s) we will return your application(s). We will only start processing your application after you return it with the correct fees.
For immigration applications, see section 10 of the IRPR and for citizenship applications, see section 13 of the Citizenship Act for more information.
Overpayment
If you pay more than the fees needed for your application(s) we will start processing your application, and send you a refund as soon as possible.
Note: You don’t have to ask for a refund. It will be done automatically.
Note: If you’re eligible for a refund, we will issue the refund to the person indicated on the Payer Information section of the receipt (if a receipt is attached to a paper application or uploaded as part of an online application). If you paid directly within an online application (no receipt attached), or if there is no name indicated on the receipt, we will send the refund to the applicant.
Only online payments are accepted in Canada. If any other forms of payment are received, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will return your application.
How to pay the fees for your application
To pay your fees for your application you’ll need:
- a valid e-mail address;
- access to a printer (you’ll need to print the receipt), and
- a credit card, Debit MasterCard® or Visa® Debit card.
Visit the link below and follow these instructions to pay:
- Go to Online Payment.
- Follow the online instructions.
- At the end, click on the button to print the IRCC official receipt with barcode. Print two copies.
- Attach a copy of this receipt to your completed application.
- Keep the second copy of the receipt for your records.
Do not exit without printing the receipt! The printed receipt is your proof of payment!
Outside Canada only
The following mode of payment may be used if you do not have access to the Internet.
If you do not have access to the Internet, you may pay directly to the Canadian embassy, High Commission or consulate closest to your home.
Make sure you submit your completed application and the correct fees. If more than one adult member of your family is applying for renunciation of Canadian citizenship, pay all the fees together.
Note: The only acceptable forms of payment outside Canada are online or payment directly to the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate responsible for your area.
You can find information on fee payment methods outside Canada by
- Going to Pay your fees.
- Selecting Canadian embassies, high commissions and consulates.
You must choose the consular office responsible for your area.
Note: Consular offices cannot accept:
- receipts for fees paid in Canada, or
- personal cheques.
How to complete your application
The following are the forms that must be filled out and submitted:
- Application to Renounce Canadian Citizenship (CIT 0302) (opens in new tab)
- Use of a Representative (IMM 5476), if applicable (opens in new tab)
Optional:
Follow the instructions carefully. Delays will result if the application is not properly completed, or if all of the necessary documents have not been submitted. If you need more space to answer any questions use an extra sheet of paper and indicate the number and/or letter of the question you are answering.
Warning: If you send us an application that has any misleading or fraudulent information on it, you can be charged with a criminal offence, and you may be subject to criminal prosecution in a court and refusal of your application for renunciation of citizenship.
Where to send your application
Track your application
If you’re submitting a paper application, we recommend you use a postal or courier service with tracking so you have proof your application was delivered.
If you are living in Canada or the United States, complete the mailing envelope as follows:
(Your name)
(Your Address)
(Your Postal Code)
Case Processing Centre - Sydney
Renunciation
P.O. Box 10000
SYDNEY, NS B1P 7C1
If you are sending more than one application (for example, applications for family members), you may send one receipt to cover all applications. Mail the receipt and all applications together in one envelope so that they will be processed together.
or
If you are living outside Canada or the United States, submit your application to a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate for processing.
What happens next
Once your application is received in Sydney, Nova Scotia and is considered complete, it will be reviewed and processing will begin.
Some applications may encounter delays and require more time for processing. In these cases, you will be contacted for more information or asked to supply additional documents.
If you are sending an application from outside Canada and the US, through a consular mission, allow sufficient time for your application to be received at the Case Processing Centre (CPC) in Sydney, Nova Scotia, as mail service can vary between countries. If you reside in the US, send your application directly to the CPC in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
If your application is approved, you will receive a certificate of renunciation.
Your application, along with the processing fee, will be returned to you if we have begun revocation proceedings under Section 10 or Section 10.1 of the Act.
If the processing of your renunciation application has begun and then we begin the process of revoking your citizenship under section 10 or section 10.1 of the Act, the processing of your renunciation application will be suspended until a decision is made on the revocation process.
Checking your application status
In Canada and the United States
You may Contact Us or go online to see the current status of your application:
- Go to Check application status.
- Follow the instructions provided.
To obtain details on how to remove your application status information from the Internet, visit the “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) section.
If you are outside Canada and the United States:
Contact the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate responsible for your region.
Processing times
You can obtain current processing times for renunciation applications online.
Protecting your information
Your personal information is:
- only available to IRCC and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) employees who need to see it in order to provide the services to you, and
- not disclosed to other organizations 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 our Help Centre page.
Quality Assurance Program
Our quality assurance program randomly chooses applications for a special review. If chosen, we will ask you to attend an interview with an IRCC official to:
- verify that the documentation and any other information you submitted is accurate,
- verify that your application has been completed properly.
Note: We will notify you in writing if your application is chosen.
Need help?
If you need help, you can find answers to your questions by visiting the Help Centre.
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