Guide CIT 0533 - Application to resume Canadian citizenship – Canadian Armed Forces
Table of Contents
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.
Note: You are not eligible to resume Canadian citizenship under subsection 11(1) if:
- your Canadian citizenship was revoked.
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.
Note: Are you already a Canadian citizen? New rules on citizenship came into force on April 17, 2009 and June 11, 2015, and restored citizenship to many individuals who have lost it due to former legislation. Citizenship was not restored, however, to people who renounced their citizenship as adults with the Canadian government. For more information, visit the changes to citizenship rules page or consult the Help Centre.
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:
- have been a Canadian citizen;
- have lost your Canadian citizenship by means other than revocation;
- not be under a removal order (asked by Canadian officials to leave Canada);
- not have any unfulfilled conditions under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act relating to your permanent resident status (if you apply as a permanent resident);
- have met any applicable requirement under the Income Tax Act to file income taxes for the taxation year immediately before the year in which you are applying for citizenship;
Note: You need to meet this requirement if you are a permanent resident. If you are not a permanent resident, this requirement does not apply to you.
- not be subject to any prohibition under the Citizenship Act (see Section 8 of the application);
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:
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.
Note: if you have non-consecutive periods of service, provide separate documents to confirm each period of service.
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.
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:
- “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document”;
- the name of the original document;
- the date of the certification;
- the name of the authorized person;
- their official position or title; and
- their signature.
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:
Authority to certify varies by province and territory. Check with your local provincial or territorial authorities to learn who has the authority to certify.
Outside Canada:
- a notary public
Authority to certify international documents varies by country. Check with your local authorities to learn who has the authority to certify in your country.
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
The following documents issued in Quebec before January 1, 1994 are not acceptable documents in support of an application for a citizenship certificate.
- baptismal certificates;
- birth certificates; and
- marriage certificates.
For more information. If you are currently in possession of one of these certificates you must obtain a new document by contacting the office of the Directeur de l’état civil du Québec
Citizenship photos
- include two (2) identical citizenship photos
- print the Citizenship Photo Specifications page and take it to a photographer to make sure you get the correct size photo
- don't staple, glue or otherwise attach the photo directly to the application
Your application will be returned if you do not include two (2) photos that meet the citizenship photo specifications.
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.
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Application to Resume Canadian Citizenship – Canadian Armed Forces (CIT 0534)
Get the instructions (opens in a new tab)
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.
| Application (per person) | $CAN |
|---|---|
| Resume your citizenship (18 and over) | $530 |
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.
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!
Note
The only acceptable form of payment is online payment. If you send any other form of payment, IRCC will return your application.
Step 4. Submit your application
Use a courier to submit your paper application
Due to the labour disruption at Canada Post, you need to use another courier to send us your application. Use one that offers tracking so you have proof your application was delivered.
Find out how to check if your application has been received.
Send your completed application to one of the following addresses:
| Regular Mail | Courier |
|---|---|
| Case Processing Centre - Sydney CAF – Citizenship P.O. Box 8200 Sydney, NS B1P 0G7 |
IRCC Digitization Centre - Citizenship 3050 Wilson Ave New Waterford, NS B1H 5V8 |
If you are sending more than one application
If you are sending more than one application (for example, applications for family members, including siblings), you may send one receipt to cover all applications. Mail the receipt (if applicable) and all applications together in one envelope so that they will be processed together.
Note: If you are sending more than one application and one of the applications is incomplete, all the applications will be returned to you.
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:
- Go to Check application status page.
- 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.
For more information
Current processing times
You can check current processing times on the Application processing times webpage.
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.
Important information
Updating your contact information
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.
Note: If your personal situation changes (for example change of marital status, birth of a child, or you wish to withdraw your sponsorship, etc.) after you have submitted your application, you must contact us.
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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