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Apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate: About the process

Natural hazards across Canada

Special measures are in place to help those affected by the recent wildfires and floods, including free replacement of passports, citizenship certificates, PR cards and immigration documents.

Special measures for Canadian citizens or permanent residents in Iran or affected by the earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye

If you’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident

  • currently in Iran, or
  • who was affected by the earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye

You can apply for the following documents for free:

  • Canadian passport
  • Canadian citizenship certificate
  • permanent resident travel document

Learn more about the special measures for

You can now choose to receive an electronic certificate (e-certificate) or a paper certificate. Choose the certificate type you want in your

Learn more about the e-certificate

A citizenship certificate is a document that proves your Canadian citizenship.

  • You can use it to access various services and benefits, such as a pension, or apply for a passport.
  • The certificate is not a travel document.
Exception: Children 15 and under don’t need a passport to enter the United States or return to Canada by land or sea.

Documents children 15 and under can use instead of a passport:

  • original or copy of their birth certificate
    • It should be issued by the vital statistics department from the province or territory where they were born.
  • original Canadian citizenship certificate
  • Canadian citizenship card

When they turn 16, they need a passport if they’re going to enter the US.

Learn more about travelling to the US from Canada.

Learn more about the citizenship certificate

We stopped issuing citizenship cards

We no longer give out citizenship cards – archived or the commemorative certificates that came with them. If you apply to update or replace your citizenship card, we will send you a citizenship certificate.

Fees

Proof of citizenship (citizenship certificate): $75

Updating the certificate with your reclaimed Indigenous name:
$0 (until May 30, 2026)

Processing time

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Applications outside Canada and the United States may take longer.

Processing times

Your processing time starts the day we receive your complete application and ends when we make a decision. Processing times will vary based on:

  • the type of application submitted
  • if the application is complete
  • how quickly we expect to process applications we’ve already received
  • how easily we can verify your information
  • how long you take to respond to any requests or concerns
  • other factors

Learn how processing times are calculated.

Processing times for applications outside Canada and the United States

Add 3 to 4 months to account for mailing time if you

  • live outside Canada and the U.S. and
  • are applying through a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate

Add 6 to 8 months to processing time if you

  • are applying for a minor (under 18) who lives outside Canada and the U.S. and
  • sent the application directly to the Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia

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