Apply for citizenship: How to apply

On this page

• Apply online
• Apply on paper
  • Get an application package
  • Pay your fees
  • Submit your application
• Apply for citizenship urgently

You need to choose the online or paper application. Do not apply both ways.

Apply online

Some applicants can now apply online to become a Canadian citizen (opens in a new tab) .

We

• will keep testing and improving the online application
• are working to make sure that more people can apply online

Find out how to apply online

• as a family or a group
• with a representative

Apply on paper

Get an application package

The application package includes the instruction guide and all the forms you need to fill out. Use the instruction guide and the document checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Choose the application package for your situation:

• Adult (age 18 or older)
• Parent or guardian applying for a minor (under age 18)
• Minor without a Canadian parent applying alone
• Adult who served with the Canadian Armed Forces
• Adoption by a Canadian citizen
• Stateless person born to a Canadian parent

Pay the application fees

Your fees depend on whether you’re an adult (age 18 and over) or minor (under age 18). Your fees may include:

• the processing fee
• the right of citizenship fee

If you’re submitting more than one application at the same time, you can pay all the fees together.

You have to pay your fees online. Only pay your fees once you’re ready to submit your application. Make sure to include the fee receipt with your application.

Pay your fees online (opens in a new tab)

Submit your application

Make sure you

• sign the application form
• date the form the day you sign it (don’t use a date in the past or future)
• have the same application date on your application form and physical presence calculation for the following applications:
  • Adult (age 18 or older).
  • Minor (under 18) without a Canadian parent applying alone.

Send your completed application form and all the documents on the checklist

• by mail or courier
• as soon as possible after you sign and date the application form
  • If it’s dated more than 90 days before we get it, we’ll send it back to you.

Sending more than one application

If you apply for more than one person and want us to process your applications at the same time, put all applications in the same envelope. Otherwise, we process them separately.

Find out what happens if there’s a problem with one of the applications

Address for regular mail

Case Processing Centre—Sydney
Citizenship Grants
P.O. Box 7000
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1P 6V6
Canada

Address for courier mail

Case Processing Centre—Sydney
Citizenship Grants
47–49 Dorchester Street
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1P 5Z2

Apply for citizenship urgently

Processing times show how long it takes us to process applications for citizenship. We can process applications faster in special cases.

When and how to apply for citizenship urgently.