Guide CIT 0533 - Application to resume Canadian citizenship – Canadian Armed Forces 

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Before you apply
• Step 1. Gather documents
• Step 2. Complete the application
• Step 3. Pay the fees
• Step 4. Submit your application
• What happens next?
• Need Help?

Overview

This application is for a person having met the service requirements in, or with, the Canadian Armed Forces who was previously a Canadian citizen, and who wishes to resume citizenship under subsection 11(1) of the Citizenship Act. Do not use this application if you automatically acquired citizenship under amendments to the Citizenship Act that took effect April 17, 2009 or June 11, 2015.

In such cases, you must apply for Canadian citizenship using the Application for Canadian citizenship - Adults (CIT 0002) or the Application for Canadian Citizenship – Canadian Armed Forces (CIT 0532). You can obtain the application guides by visiting the apply for citizenship page.

You could lose your present nationality or citizenship if you resume your Canadian citizenship. You should ask the government authorities of the country of your present nationality if your status will be affected.

Before you apply

Read the instructions carefully. They contain important information. Be sure you are eligible the day before you sign and date your application. There is no refund of the processing fee.

Who may use this application?

This application is meant for:

• former citizens
• persons having met the service requirements in, or with, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF):
  • permanent residents (landed immigrants) of Canada who are, or were, serving in the CAF and who were honorably released, or
  • non-permanent residents who are, or were attached or seconded to the CAF

Note: If you were released other than honourably from the Canadian Armed Forces, you are not eligible to apply under the Canadian Armed Forces application form. Consider applying under the Application to resume Canadian Citizenship under subsection 11(1) if you meet the requirements to resume citizenship.

Citizenship service requirements

The Citizenship Act provides for an expedited access to citizenship for persons who are serving in, or have served in, the Canadian Armed Forces. The Act requires a person to have completed six months of service in the two years immediately before the date of the application.

What are the other requirements for citizenship?

To qualify to resume your Canadian citizenship you must:

Step 1. Gather documents

If this is your first citizenship application you must send original or certified true copies of all your documents. If the documents you submit are certified true copies, an authorized person must swear or affirm that the copies are true copies of the originals. An authorized person can be a commissioner of oaths, a notary public or a justice of the peace.

If you have made a citizenship application in the past, you may send a clear and legible photocopy of your documents.

You must send:

• proof that you were once a Canadian citizen (for example, a birth certificate or a Canadian citizenship certificate);
• proof that you ceased to be a Canadian citizen (for example, a foreign naturalization certificate or a written notification issued by the Canadian Citizenship authorities advising that you are no longer a Canadian citizen);
• Canadian immigration documents to prove your status in Canada (either your Work Permit (IMM 1102 or IMM 1442B), Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292, IMM 5688 or IMM 5509) and both sides of your Permanent Resident Card (PRC) if you have one.
• at least two (2) pieces of personal identification, one of which must have your photo, such as a driver’s licence or a health insurance card.
• other documents, such as your marriage certificate and/or legal change of name certificate (if applicable).
• evidence of service in the Canadian Armed Forces as described below.

Optional:

• Request form for a Change of Sex or Gender Identifier [IRM 0002] (PDF, 1.79 MB)

Evidence of Service in the Canadian Armed Forces

• If you are currently serving in the CAF, provide:
  • a letter from your Commanding Officer that outlines your service history; and
  • a photocopy of your Member’s Personnel Record Resume (MPRR).
• If you have been released from the CAF, provide:
  • a photocopy of your Member’s Personnel Record Resume (MPRR); and
  • a photocopy of your Certificate of Service.
• If you are attached or seconded to the CAF, provide:
  • a letter from your Commanding Officer that outlines your service history; and
  • a photocopy of your instructions/orders supporting attachment/secondment.
• If you were previously attached or seconded to the CAF, provide:
  • a photocopy of your instructions/orders supporting attachment/secondment.

The letter from your Commanding Officer must:

• be on official letterhead;
• state the date you enrolled in, or were attached or seconded to, the CAF;
• state the number of months and/or days of service; and
• include the Commanding Officer’s phone number and email address for verification.

Step 2. Complete the application

Follow the instructions carefully. An application will not be accepted for processing 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: The information you provide on your application and supporting documents may be subject to verification. Throughout the application process, if you or someone on your behalf provides any misleading or fraudulent information or withhold any information that could cause an error in the administration of the Citizenship Act, you can be charged with an offence under the Citizenship Act, your application to resume citizenship could be refused, and you could be prohibited from reapplying for citizenship for five years.

Be complete and accurate

Section 1

What is your preferred language for correspondence and, if applicable, interview? English or French?

Section 2

Check the box to indicate if you have any special needs. Special needs are described as:

• wheelchair access
• sign language interpretation
• personal assistance (for example, you will be accompanied by a care attendant, an interpreter, a seeing eye dog, a sighted guide, etc.)

Note: It is important to provide the information if you need assistance in order for CIC to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate you.

Section 3

Check the box to indicate if you have ever applied to resume Canadian citizenship before. If “Yes”, indicate when you last applied.

Check the box to indicate if you have ever had a certificate of Canadian citizenship. If you check “Yes”, indicate the family name, given names, certificate number and the date the certificate was issued.

Indicate whether you have previously returned the certificate of Canadian citizenship and/or the pink transmission copy of a certificate, or whether you are returning it with this application. If the certificate is not being returned, tell us if it was stolen, lost, or destroyed. Indicate if the theft or loss was reported to police and give the details, (e.g., a copy of the police report).

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

Section 4

A. Indicate your family name and given name(s), as they appear on your Work Permit (IMM 1102 or IMM 1442B), Record of Landing (IMM 1000), Permanent Resident Card (PRC) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292, IMM 5688 or IMM 5509).

B. Write your current last name (surname/family name) and given name(s), if different from question 4A. Important information: You must provide supporting documents for any change in your name. See “Name change” in the Gather Documents section.

C. If you have used another name in the past, or are known by a name other than the one you listed above, indicate the name on the application form. (Other names can include your birth name, nicknames, community names, etc.).

Note: You cannot request a change of name after your application has been submitted to the Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Section 5

A. Enter your date of birth exactly as it appears on your Work Permit IMM 1102 or IMM 1442B), Record of Landing (IMM 1000), your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292, IMM 5688 or IMM 5509) or Permanent Resident Card (PRC), or as it appears on your amendment made to these documents, if you have already obtained one. This is the date of birth that will appear on your citizenship certificate.

Note: If you requested an amendment to your Record of Landing or Confirmation of Permanent Residence, you will need to provide both your original Record of Landing or Confirmation of Permanent Residence and the letter you received confirming the change(s) you requested have been done.

If the date of birth on the Record of Landing, Confirmation of Permanent Residence or Permanent Resident Card is not your correct date of birth, it may be possible to change the information in your immigration records. Your Record of Landing, Confirmation of Permanent Residence or Permanent Resident Card (PRC) will be changed only to correct mistakes made by Citizenship and Immigration Canada in recording the information you provided when you applied to come to Canada. You must obtain the correct version before submitting your application for citizenship. Do not apply for citizenship until you have received a response to your request. Include your new corrected Permanent Resident Card or the letter of amendment and your original Record of Landing or Confirmation of Permanent Residence with your citizenship application. You may not change your birth date during the processing of your application for citizenship.

This guide does not provide general information about amending your Record of Landing (IMM 1000), Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292, IMM 5688 or IMM 5509) or Permanent Resident Card (PRC). For information on amending your Record of Landing or your Confirmation of Permanent Residence, refer to the guide Request to Amend the Record of Landing, Confirmation of Permanent Residence or Valid Temporary Resident Documents (IMM 5218). For information on amending your Permanent Resident Card, refer to the guide Application for a Permanent Resident Card (IMM 5445).

Indicate the place and country where you were born.

B. Indicate whether you are F Female, M Male or X Another gender, your height, and the colour of your eyes. We need this information for our records. Your eye colour, gender, and height will be shown on your citizenship certificate.

C. Check the box to indicate your legal marital status.

Section 6

A. Provide your current home address complete with postal code.

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

If the mailing address is that of a representative, you must indicate their mailing address in this section and complete the Use of a Representative form (IMM 5476).

C. We may need to contact you by phone. List the phone number(s) where you can be reached. Indicate your e-mail address using this format (if applicable): name@provider.net

If you provide your e-mail address, CIC may correspond with you about your application via e-mail if necessary. If the e-mail address is that of a representative, you must indicate their e-mail address in this section and complete the Use of a Representative form (IMM 5476).

D. Indicate how long you have lived at your current home address.

Section 7

A. List all countries of which you are a citizen. Indicate the dates and how you obtained this citizenship.

B. If your most recent certificate of Canadian citizenship was issued before February 15, 1977 or you have never had a certificate, list all absences from Canada for one (1) year or longer before 1977. List from the date you left Canada to the date you returned. Indicate in which country you were living and the reason for the absence.

C. Check the box to indicate if you are a permanent resident. If “Yes”, give the date when you became a permanent resident. Refer to box 45 of your Record of Landing (IMM 1000), box 46 of your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292, IMM 5688 or IMM 5509), or the back of your Permanent Resident Card (PRC).

Your entry to Canada and your status will be verified with Canadian officials.

If conditions were imposed at the time you were granted permanent resident status that you have not complied with, you should contact CIC to clarify this situation before applying for citizenship. You cannot resume citizenship if you have unfulfilled (outstanding) conditions relating to your status as a permanent resident.

D. Give the date you returned to Canada to live if different from C.

E. Indicate if you are a permanent resident (or the equivalent) of any country other than Canada. If yes, list the country (countries) and the date(s) that you obtained this status for each country.

F. List all of your Canadian and overseas addresses for the two years immediately before the date of your application, including the postal codes.

G.

1. Check the box to indicate if you are, or were, enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces during the two years immediately before the date of your application. If yes, provide the details.
2. Check the box to indicate if you are, or were, attached or seconded to the Canadian Armed Forces during the two years immediately before the date of your application. If yes, provide the details.
3. Check the box to indicate if you were released from the Canadian Armed Forces during the two years immediately before the date of your application. If yes, provide the date of release and check the box to indicate the category of release.

Note: Categories of release must be either

• Other than honourable release (Item 1, Misconduct; Item 2, Unsatisfactory Service)
• Honourable release (Item 3, Medical; Item 4, Voluntary; Item 5, Service Completed)
• as set out in the Queen’s Regulation and Orders, Article 15.01 Release of Officers and Non-Commissioned Members

H. You must have filed an income tax return, if required under the Income Tax Act, for the taxation year immediately before you apply for citizenship.

To determine if you were required under the Income Tax Act to file income taxes, refer to Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Check the box to indicate if you have a Social Insurance Number (SIN), a Temporary Tax Number (TTN), or an Individual Tax Number (ITN).

If you check Yes, provide the most recent number that you used to file your income taxes. Complete the table for the taxation year immediately before the year in which you are applying for citizenship, indicating whether you were required to file personal income taxes, and whether or not you filed personal income taxes.

With your consent to the sharing of your income tax filing information between CIC and CRA, this information will be used by CIC to determine if you meet the income tax filing requirement of the Citizenship Act. Note that if you do not provide your consent for that specific purpose, your application will be returned as incomplete and not be processed.

If you check No, you are declaring that you do not have a SIN, TTN, or ITN.

To check your personal tax information, you may refer to the CRA’s My Account online service.

Section 8

Prohibitions under the Citizenship Act

Certain conditions outlined in the Citizenship Act may affect your application to resume citizenship. To find out if these apply to you, go to Section 8 of the application. Answer all of the questions by checking yes or no. For any yes responses provide details and if applicable, attach court documents.

CIC checks with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service to find out if there are any criminal or security reasons that could prevent you from resuming Canadian citizenship.

You may be required to provide fingerprints or court documents to ensure that you are not prohibited under the Citizenship Act.

If you received a certificate of Canadian citizenship on or after February 15, 1977, go to Section 13.

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 Canada to live.

Section 10

Answer all questions regarding your parents, as applicable:

• Indicate the relationship of your parents to you by indicating Natural or Adoptive.
• Indicate your parents’ family name, other names used, given name(s), date of birth and place/country of birth.
• Indicate where your parents were married (if applicable) and the date of the marriage.
• Indicate how your parents obtained Canadian citizenship.
• Indicate if your parents left Canada for more than one (1) year before 1977. If yes, indicate the dates they were away and the country they were in.
• Indicate if your parents are or were a citizen of a country other than Canada. If yes, indicate the details showing the country, date and how the citizenship was obtained.
• Indicate if your parents were employed in Canada by a foreign government or international agency. If yes, provide details.
• If your parents were born in Canada, indicate if one of their parents was employed by a foreign government or international agency. If yes, provide details.

Section 12

Congratulatory letter

• If you check the “yes” box:
  • you authorize CIC to provide your name, address and preferred official language to your federal Member of Parliament so that they can send you a letter of congratulations if your Canadian citizenship is resumed.
• If you check the “no” box:
  • CIC will not provide your information to your Member of Parliament.

Note: If you are not a resident of Canada you do not have to complete Section 12.

Section 13

A. National Register of Electors – Authorization

Check either the Yes box or the No box to indicate whether or not you authorize CIC to provide your name, address, gender and date of birth to Elections Canada to be added to the National Register of Electors (the Register). When you become a Canadian citizen and are 18 years of age or older, you have the right to vote in federal elections and referendums. Elections Canada maintains the Register and uses it during a federal election or referendum to produce voters lists and to communicate with eligible voters.

If you check the Yes box, CIC will provide your name, address, gender and date of birth to Elections Canada to be added to the Register, but only after you become a Canadian citizen. If you check the No box, CIC will not provide your information to Elections Canada. You will still have the right to vote in federal elections and referendums, but you will have to take the necessary steps to be added to the list.

More information about the Register and its uses is available at Elections Canada. You can also call Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868.

B. Québec’s Permanent List of Electors – Authorization

For Québec residents only.

When you resume your Canadian citizenship, you will have the right to vote. As soon as you become a Canadian citizen, you may want to have your name entered on Québec’s Permanent List of Electors.

What is Québec’s Permanent List of Electors?

The Permanent List of Electors is the registry of persons who are entitled to vote during elections and referendums in Québec. Those persons whose names appear on this list have the right to vote in provincial, municipal and school elections. The Chief Electoral Officer of Québec is responsible for drawing up and updating the Permanent List of Electors.

• If you check the “yes” box in Section 13 (b):
  • You authorize CIC to provide your name, address, gender and date of birth to the Chief Electoral Officer of Québec so that your name can be added to the Permanent List of Electors if you become a Canadian citizen.
• If you check the “no” box in Section 13 (b):
  • CIC will not give your information to the Chief Electoral Officer of Québec;
  • To be able to vote in a provincial, municipal or school election, you will have to go to the revision office and present two supporting documents to register your name on the list of electors.

Your personal information is protected.

Under the Election Act of Québec, the information provided by CIC to the Chief Electoral Officer may only be used for election purposes. The computer systems of CIC and those of the Chief Electoral Officer of Québec are not linked. CIC will not disclose to the Chief Electoral Officer of Québec the information needed to register you on the Permanent List of Electors without your consent.

For more information, call toll-free: 1-888-ELECTION (1-888-353-2846) or visit the Chief Electoral Officer of Québec.

C. Service History with the Canadian Armed Forces

Check Yes box to authorize CIC to contact the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) or the Department of National Defence (DND) to verify the details of your service and to use the information to determine your citizenship eligibility. By selecting “Yes” you are also authorising the CAF or the DND to provide the details of your service to CIC.

D. Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

Subsection 8(1) of the Privacy Act and paragraph 241(5)(b) of the Income Tax Act allows the CRA to provide personal information to CIC, with the consent of the relevant individuals.

This consent is required under paragraph 12(2)(f) of the Citizenship Regulations.

Check Yes box to authorize the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to provide details of your tax filing information to CIC. By selecting Yes you are also authorizing CIC to collect your tax filing information from the CRA in order to determine whether you meet the income tax requirement for citizenship.

Section 14

If you appoint an individual, firm or organization as your representative, you must complete the Use of a Representative Form (IMM 5476). Note that once you appoint a representative, all correspondence from CIC regarding your application will be directed to them and not to you.

For instructions on completing the Use of a Representative form (IMM 5476), see: Guide 5561 – Instructions – Use of a Representative.

Step 3. Pay the fees

Your fees

Use the table below to calculate the total amount of fees to be paid. Fees must be included with this application.

Explanation of fees and refunds

This section 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 adult applicant

Non-refundable once processing has begun, regardless of the final decision.

Step 4. Submit your application

Send your completed application to one of the following addresses:

What happens next?

Once your application is received at the Case Processing Centre (CPC) in Sydney, Nova Scotia, 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. You may be asked to appear in person before a citizenship officer.

If you meet the requirements to resume citizenship, and you are in Canada, your local citizenship office will let you know when and where to go to take the oath of citizenship.

If you meet the requirements to resume citizenship and you are outside Canada, CIC will let you know when and where to go to take the oath of citizenship before a foreign service officer. If you would like to take the oath in Canada, let CIC know.

After you take the oath, you will receive your citizenship certificate.

Checking application status on line

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

1. Go to Check application status page.
2. 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 Help Centre section.

If you reside in Canada:

You may Contact Us for more information.

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,
• may be shared, with your consent, with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the purposes of validating your tax filing information; and
• is not disclosed to anyone else except as permitted under the provisions of the Privacy Act and the Citizenship Regulations.

Note: The legal authority for CIC to collect income tax information including filing history and the Social Insurance Number (SIN) is provided for in subsection 11(1.1) of the Citizenship Act, section 26.6 of the Citizenship Regulations and paragraph 12(2)(e) of the Citizenship Regulations No.2. The CRA’s legal authority to disclose income tax information including filing history upon applicant consent is provided for in paragraph 241(5)(b) of the Income Tax Act. Income tax information including filing history provided by the CRA to CIC may be used to verify a citizenship applicant’s income tax information including filing history for the purpose of assessing their citizenship application against the tax filing requirement of subsection 11(1.1) of the Citizenship Act. CIC may, on occasion, send information pertaining to a citizenship application to the CRA in respect of any relevant information related to any discrepancies between the information obtained from the applicant and that provided by the CRA if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the discrepancy is a result of false representation, fraud or concealment of material circumstances made in the course of an application, as well as any personal information, including the SIN, of an applicant that the CRA is authorized to collect for the purpose of the administration of the Income Tax Act. CIC will not use this information for any other purpose or share it with any other third party.

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

During the application process, you must advise us of any change of address or telephone number. You can do this by going to Change of address or by consulting the How to contact CIC section at the end of this guide.

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