After the citizenship ceremony
Congratulations on becoming a Canadian citizen and welcome to the Canadian family! Find out about information and services for new Canadians.
Get your citizenship certificate
A Canadian citizenship certificate proves that you’re a Canadian citizen. You’ll get either an electronic or a paper certificate.
- In your application, you can choose the electronic or paper format.
- At the ceremony, we’ll ask you to confirm your choice of certificate format.
- Your certificate will show the date that you became a citizen.
Electronic certificate (e-certificate)
If you choose to get an e-certificate, we’ll email you an instruction letter explaining how to download it from the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Portal.
You’ll receive the email after
- you’ve attended the ceremony
- you’ve signed and dated your Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form (provided in the virtual ceremony invitation or at the in-person ceremony) and returned it to us, and
- we’ve confirmed you’re a citizen in our system
Your e-certificate will be available in the IRCC Portal within 5 business days of us receiving your signed and dated Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form.
Learn more about accessing the e-certificate (opens in a new tab)
Paper certificate
How you get your paper certificate depends on the type of ceremony you attend.
| Virtual ceremony | You’ll get your paper certificate in the mail (sent to your Canadian address) 2 to 4 weeks after we receive your signed Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form. (You’ll get it in the ceremony invitation.) |
|---|---|
| In-person ceremony | After you take the oath of citizenship, you’ll get your paper certificate at the ceremony. We’ll ask you to sign the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form at the ceremony. |
After you get your certificate
You must
- keep it in a safe place
- check if the personal information on the front and back of your certificate is accurate
Do not laminate your certificate or put a plastic coating or layer on it.
- This could damage the certificate.
- We may not be able to confirm the information or the barcode on the certificate.
- This is important when you apply for your passport or other government services.
Learn more about the citizenship certificate.(opens in a new tab)
Get your passport
You can only apply for a passport after you get your Canadian citizenship certificate (proof of your citizenship).
Wait for your Canadian passport before leaving the country
As a Canadian citizen, you must have a Canadian passport to travel abroad and return to Canada. This is because
- your permanent resident card (PR card) is destroyed or collected at the ceremony
- your citizenship certificate is not a travel document and you can’t use it to enter Canada
If you have an e-certificate
You must print it to apply for a passport.
If you’re a dual Canadian citizen
You can enter Canada only with:
- a valid Canadian passport, or
- a special authorization (issued only under certain circumstances)
Register to vote
As a Canadian citizen, you have the right and responsibility to vote.
Register to vote in federal elections
For provincial or territorial elections, contact the election authority in your province or territory.
Be active in your community
Get involved with your community to make Canada a stronger and more inclusive country.
Explore Canada with the Canada Strong Pass
Enjoy free or discounted admissions. Discover Canada’s richness — from museums to nature to railroads.
Get more information and services
Find out about other services and information we offer for Canadians.
After you become a Canadian citizen, you don’t need to tell us if you change your address.