Apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate: About the process

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.
- If you’re travelling abroad, you must have a valid passport or 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.

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.

Proof of citizenship (citizenship certificate): $75

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