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Apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate: About the process

Floods in British Columbia

If you’re directly affected by the floods, you may be able to get

  • free replacement of documents that are lost, damaged, destroyed or inaccessible due to the floods
  • urgent processing and a refund for an application you’ve submitted because of the floods

Find out how to apply

Fees

Proof of citizenship (citizenship certificate): $75

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

Processing time

15 months ?

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

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.

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