Guide CIT 0531 – Application for Canadian citizenship – Adults – Canadian Armed Forces under subsection 5(1)

• If you can’t demonstrate you meet the knowledge and/or language requirements due to compassionate grounds, submit supporting evidence with your application.
• Provide a completed Waiver Request Form (CIT 0116) (opens in new tab) .
• If you are requesting a waiver due to a medical condition, we recommend you also provide a Medical Opinion Form for Citizenship Waivers (CIT 0547) (opens in new tab) , filled out by a medical professional licensed to practice in Canada.
• You should also provide any additional documentation that we should consider with your waiver request.

Compassionate grounds include medical and non-medical factors. Examples include (but are not limited to) evidence of

• a severe medical condition that has lasted (or is expected to last) for at least 1 year, including
  • serious illness
  • physical or developmental disability
  • mental impairment
• trauma due to
  • war
  • torture
  • living in a refugee camp
  • other similar circumstances
• low levels of education or literacy in the first language (mother tongue)
• other circumstances that may justify a waiver.

Requesting a waiver does not guarantee it will be approved. They are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

• If you are requesting a waiver of language and knowledge requirements, you only need to provide one Waiver Request Form (CIT 0116) (opens in new tab) . If you are also providing a Medical Opinion Form for Citizenship Waivers (CIT 0547) (opens in new tab) , only one is required to request multiple waivers.

They will need to complete the Application for Canadian Citizenship – Adults (CIT 0002) (opens in new tab) 

Complete the Application for Canadian Citizenship – Minors (CIT 0003) (opens in new tab) .

The table below outlines the documents that you need to include with your application. Refer to the Document Checklist (CIT 0172) (opens in new tab)  to assist you in gathering the necessary documentation.

1. Results from a third-party language test. Your language test result must be equal to the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB/NCLC)^{footnote 1} level 4 or higher in speaking and listening skills. If you did the test in the past for immigration purposes or citizenship purposes, we will accept the results even if it has expired. Examples of third-party tests include:
   • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program General test (CELPIP-G), (not the academic version). You must have achieved a score of:
     • 2H or higher (3L, 3H, 4L, 4H, 5 or 6) in speaking and listening; or
     • CELPIP-General LS – a two-skills (listening and speaking) version of the CELPIP general test You must have achieved a score of:2H or higher (3L, 3H, 4L, 4H, 5 or 6) in listening and speaking; or
   • International English Language Testing System (IELTS), general training, not the academic version. You must have achieved a score of:
     • 4.0 or higher in speaking, and
     • 4.5 or higher in listening. (If the test was done before November 28, 2008, we will accept a 4 or higher); or
   • Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF), Test d’Évaluation du Français adapté au Québec (TEFAQ) or TEF épreuves orales.
     • After July 1^st, 2012, you must have achieved a score of:
       • B1 or higher (B2, C1 or C2) in listening; and
       • B1 or higher (B2, C1 or C2) in speaking.
     • Before July 1^st, 2012, you must have achieved a score of:
       • Level 3 or higher (4, 5 or 6) in listening; and
       • Level 3 or higher (4, 5 or 6) in speaking.
   • The following list of proof will be accepted if they have been submitted for immigration purposes to Quebec (please note that the following tests align with the Échelle Québécoise and not officially with CLB/NCLC 4):
     • DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française) – All results or
     • DELF (Diplôme d’études en langue française) – B1 or higher or
     • TCF (Test de connaissance du français) – B1 or higher or
     • TCFQ (Test de connaissance du français pour le Québec) – B1 or higher
2. You attended a secondary or post-secondary education program in English or French, either in Canada or abroad:
   • A degree, diploma, certificate or official transcripts from a secondary or post-secondary education program showing you studied in English or French, in Canada or abroad.
   • If the original document is in a different language, include:
     • a letter from the school showing that the language of instruction was in English or French along with
     • an official translation of the original document and
     • the address and contact information (phone number) of the education institution
3. Proof of achieving Canadian Language Benchmark/Niveau de competence linguistique canadien (CLB/NCLC) level 4 or higher in speaking and listening skills through certain government-funded language training programs are:
   • For Manitoba: Progress report from Manitoba government issued since January 2009. Ensure your report indicates speaking and listening skills are at least at “completing CLB/NCLC level 4” or higher.
   • For Quebec: Bulletins by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion du Québec (MIDI) (former department name), or the Ministère de l’Immigration et Communautés Culturelles (former department name) if:
     • The version was issued between June 1st 2011 and October 16, 2012. Ensure that your most recent assessment in “interaction orale” is level 4 or higher (Échelle Québécoise); or
     • The version was issued since October 16, 2012. Ensure that your most recent assessment is in “interaction orale” or “compréhension orale” (listening) and “production orale” (speaking) is level 4 or higher (Échelle Québécoise).

       Note: Bulletins with results from online FEL Francisation en ligne) classes are not acceptable for citizenship purposes, e.g. these usually have a course code B or FEL. Note that bulletins issued by the MIFI or the MICC align with the Échelle Québécoise and not officially with CLB/NCLC 4.

   • For British Columbia (BC):
     • If you received British Columbia’s English Language Services for Adults (ELSA) training in 2008 and 2009, an ELSA certificate confirming language level CLB 4 or higher.
     • If you received British Columbia’s English Language Services for Adults (ELSA) training since 2010, an ELSA report card or an ELSA certificate confirming language level CLB 4 or higher
   • For Ontario: Ontario Provincial Language Training Certificates dating from December 2013 or later, and issued by providers of the Adult Non-Credit Language Training Program funded by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and International Trade (MCIIT), formerly known as the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration. Ensure your Ontario MCIIT Adult Non-Credit language training program certificate indicates achievement of level CLB/NCLC 4 or higher, in speaking and listening. These certificates must be for:
     • English as a Second Language (ESL) / Anglais langue seconde (ALS)
     • French as a Second Language (FSL) / Français langue seconde (FLS)
     • Citizenship and Language Training (CL) / Instruction civique et enseignement de la langue (ICEL)
   • For Nova Scotia: Submit a copy of the Proficiency in English Nova Scotia (PENS) learner certificate. It must show that your speaking and listening skills are at CLB level 4 or higher.
   • Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC or CLIC): Check the box if you successfully completed the course at CLB4/NCLC 4 or higher from January 2008 to October 31, 2012, and provide a copy of the certificate if available. If you successfully completed the LINC or CLIC course since November 1, 2012, a certificate will be provided to you. A copy of this certificate is required. Note that completion of LINC or CLIC before 2008 does not qualify for proof of language ability.

Format: Clear and legible photocopy. Must be in English or French. Foreign diplomas, certificates or transcripts must be translated if they are not in English or French. (See note above in section 2).

• If you are 18-54 years of age and unable to demonstrate that you have the necessary English or French language ability due to compassionate grounds, this requirement may be waived. You must submit supporting evidence with your application, including a completed Waiver Request Form (CIT 0116) (opens in new tab) . If you are requesting a waiver due to a medical condition, we recommend you also provide a Medical Opinion Form for Citizenship Waivers (CIT 0547) (opens in new tab) , filled out by a medical professional licensed to practice in Canada. You should also provide any additional documentation that we should consider with your waiver request.
  

  Compassionate grounds include medical and non-medical factors. Examples include (but are not limited to) evidence of

  • a severe medical condition that has lasted (or is expected to last) for at least 1 year, including
    • serious illness
    • physical or developmental disability
    • mental impairment
  • trauma due to
    • war
    • torture
    • living in a refugee camp
    • other similar circumstances
  • low levels of education or literacy in the first language (mother tongue)
  • other circumstances that may justify a waiver.
• Requesting a waiver does not guarantee it will be approved. They are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Provide a colour photocopy of all the pages of your current passport(s) and travel documents, including the biographical page which is the page that has your name, photo, date and place of birth, , issue date and expiration date.

Also, provide colour photocopies of any renewal pages of the passport(s)/travel document(s).

Get the instructions for completing the Use of a Representative form (IMM 5476). (opens in a new tab) 

Format: Original

Possible documents are:

• translations of documents that are not in English or French
• supporting documents to prove a name change
• supporting documents to prove a date of birth correction
• Waiver Request Form (CIT 0116) (opens in new tab) 
• Medical Opinion Form for Citizenship Waivers (CIT 0547) (opens in new tab) 

Format: Clear and legible photocopy

Step 2. Complete the application

Filling out the application

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

The following are the forms that must be filled out and submitted:

• Application for Canadian citizenship – Adults – Canadian Armed Forces under Subsection 5(1) (CIT 0532)

  Get the instructions (opens in a new tab)

• Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) (opens in new tab) , if applicable

Optional:

• Request for a Change of Sex or Gender Identifier (IRM 0002) (opens in new tab) 
• Request to Correct a Date of Birth for a Permanent Resident Document or Citizenship Certificate [IRM 0003] (PDF, 2.4 MB)
• Waiver Request Form (CIT 0116) (opens in new tab) 
• Medical Opinion Form for Citizenship Waivers (CIT 0547) (opens in new tab) 

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 all of the following on the photocopy:

• the name and signature of the authorized person;
• their official position or title;
• the name of the original document;
• the date they certified the document; and
• the phrase “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document”.

Who can certify copies?

Only authorized people can certify copies.

Important information: Certifying of copies must not be done by the applicants themselves nor by an applicant’s parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or first cousin.

People authorized to certify copies include the following:

In Canada:

• a notary public;
• a commissioner of oaths; or
• a commissioner of taking affidavits.

Authority to certify varies by province and territory. Check with your local provincial or territorial authorities to learn who can certify documents.

Outside Canada:

• a notary public

Authority to certify international documents varies by country. Check with your local authorities to learn who can certify documents in your country.

You must pay your fees online (opens in a new tab) . If you have forgotten your password for the online payment system, you can reset it.

For the fee amounts, please refer to the Fee list.

If more than one member of your family is applying for Canadian citizenship, pay the fees all together.

After you pay, print the receipt and include it with your application.

All payments must be made in Canadian funds.

Explanation of fees and refund

This section describes the fees that are required and if they are refundable.

Processing fee

Applicants 18 years of age and older applying under subsection 5(1) and  minors applying under subsection 5(2) must pay the processing fee.

You can’t get a refund of your processing fee once we start processing your application, even if you are refused. If you choose to withdraw your application, or abandon your application, you will only be refunded the Right of Citizenship fee.

Right of Citizenship fee

Applicants over 18 years of age must pay the Right of Citizenship fee.

You will be refunded your Right of Citizenship fee if you don’t become a citizen.

We will issue any refunds to the person on the Payer Information section of the receipt. If there is no name on the receipt, we will send the refund to the applicant.

The Case Processing Centre (CPC) in Sydney makes sure your application

• meets the minimum processing requirements;
• includes all the required documents;
• that the appropriate fee payment has been made.

If your application is complete, processing starts.

You will receive:

• acknowledgement of receipt;
• the citizenship study guide.

Your application will be returned if:

• it doesn’t meet the minimum processing requirements;
• doesn’t include the correct fee payment; and/or
• isn’t complete.

If returned, we send you a letter that explains why your application is incomplete and what the next steps are.

The letter will tell you:

• which forms, documents or fees are missing
• if you have to
  • refill the application form
    • if so, use the newest version of the form: Application for Canadian citizenship – Adults – Canadian Armed Forces under Subsection 5(1) (CIT 0532) (opens in new tab) 
    • sign and date the form
  • submit a new fee receipt
    • if the letter doesn’t ask for a new receipt, include the same receipt when you resubmit the application
  • resubmit any documents

Be sure to check the Document Checklist (CIT 0172) (opens in new tab) . Once you get the information we ask for in the letter, resubmit your complete application.

Prepare for your test

During the processing period, if you are between the ages of 18 and 54, you should:

• prepare for the citizenship test and/or interview on Canada’s history, geography, government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship based on the study guide and
• continue to maintain and improve your English or French if necessary.

If you have requested a waiver of the knowledge requirement (i.e., citizenship test), you will not be invited to the test. Instead, your waiver request will be assessed. You will only be invited to the citizenship test if you knowledge waiver request is denied.

If we invite you to an interview, test, and/or hearing, your invitation will tell you what to bring.

If applicable, you will be tested on your knowledge of:

• English or French
• Canada’s history, geography, government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship (the citizenship test).

We will send you one or more of these notices:

• Notice to appear to take a citizenship test
• Notice to appear for an interview with a citizenship official
• Notice to appear for a hearing with a citizenship officer or a citizenship judge

• The CPC sends your application to the IRCC office nearest to your home for further processing.
• The IRCC office completes the steps necessary for a decision to be made on your application.
• You may be asked to come to the IRCC office for a review of the original documents you submitted in support of your application, as well as your current passport and travel document. If applicable, you will be evaluated on your knowledge of English or French and on your knowledge of Canada’s history, geography, government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Correspondence you may receive:

• Notification to appear to take a citizenship test; and/or
• Notification to appear for an interview with a citizenship official; and/or
• Notification to appear for a hearing with a citizenship official.

If you meet all the requirements for citizenship, the IRCC office notifies you of the time and place of your citizenship ceremony.

What you receive:

• Notification to appear to take the oath of citizenship
• Certificate of Canadian citizenship received at the ceremony after taking the oath of citizenship

If you are unable to understand the significance of taking the oath of citizenship due to mental disability, you can request a waiver. To request an oath waiver, please provide a Medical Opinion Form for Citizenship Waivers (CIT 0547) (opens in new tab) , filled out by a medical professional licensed to practice in Canada. You should also provide any additional documentation that we should consider with your waiver request.

• Requesting a waiver does not guarantee it will be approved. Waiver requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Appendix A - 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.

Appendix B - Date of Birth Correction

The date of birth on your citizenship certificate will be the same as the one shown on your immigration document unless you:

• have corrected your date of birth on your immigration document or
• have legally changed it after arriving in Canada or
• are requesting a different date of birth for your citizenship certificate and you can provide supporting documents.

If your date of birth has been corrected on your immigration document then you must provide a copy of

• an approved Request to Amend Immigration Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688), and
• your new corrected Permanent Resident Card (if you have one).

If you have legally changed your date of birth by a provincial/territorial court order then you must provide a copy of

• provincial/territorial court order changing your date of birth and
• completed questionnaire Request to Correct a Date of Birth for a Permanent Resident Document or Citizenship Certificate [IRM 0003] (PDF, 2.4 MB).

If you did not change your date of birth by a provincial/territorial court order
and
your date of birth has not been corrected on your immigration document
then you must provide a copy of

• a refused Request to Amend the Immigration Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688) and
• completed questionnaire Request to Correct a Date of Birth for a Permanent Resident Document or Citizenship Certificate [IRM 0003] (PDF, 2.4 MB) and
• documents to support your new date of birth.

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 immigration document.

If you do not have a provincial/territorial court order changing your date of birth, you must first request an amendment to your immigration document before requesting a different date of birth on your citizenship certificate.

For more information. For information on amending your immigration document refer to the guide Request to Amend Record of Landing, Confirmation of Permanent Residence or Valid Temporary Resident Documents (IMM 5218).

Appendix C – Change of Gender Designation

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 for a Change of Sex or Gender Identifier (IRM 0002) (opens in new tab)  with your application.

Appendix D – Waiver Request(s) and/or Guardianship Documents

If you need to request a waiver of the knowledge and/or language requirements due to compassionate grounds, please submit the Waiver Request Form (CIT 0116) (opens in new tab)  filled out to provide us with an explanation of the details of your request.

If you are requesting a waiver of the knowledge and/or language requirements due to a medical condition, we recommend you provide the Medical Opinion Form for Citizenship Waivers (CIT 0547) (opens in new tab) , filled out by a medical professional (physician, psychologist, or nurse practitioner) licensed to practice in Canada.

If you are requesting a waiver of taking the oath of citizenship, please submit the Medical Opinion form. Waivers of the oath of citizenship only occur if you are unable to understand the significance of taking the oath of citizenship due to mental disability.

If you have a legal guardian who we should be corresponding with, please provide documents showing guardianship. Documents could include a power of attorney document, judicial court order, an affidavit, or other documentation proving guardianship.

Affidavits should:

• be written by the guardian in the person's own style;
• indicate that they are qualified to act on the applicant's behalf;
• be in simple, understandable English or French;
• contain specific information outlined below; and
• include signed statements/letters, outlining the facts, of other family members/interested parties, if available.

The information required in an affidavit to act on behalf of a citizenship applicant should include:

1. Application ID number (if known)
2. (Name of guardian) of the city of (name of city) in the province of (name of province) affirm that:
3. Using the first person, the guardian should state what his/her relationship is to the applicant (applicant's name) born on (applicant's date of birth) in (applicant's place of birth), whose application for citizenship is being/was made on (date of application).
4. The guardian should state why they are acting on behalf of the applicant (include applicant’s name). The guardian should include any important facts, including the nature of the relationship with the client and any legal authority presently held showing that the guardian can represent the client.
5. The guardian should state whether they are acting in the best interest of the client. The guardian should include any known personal knowledge of the client's needs and wishes.
6. The guardian should state whether any medical information about the applicant was provided to IRCC.
7. The guardian signs the affidavit.
8. The affidavit is attested by an authorized person.