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Apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate: How to apply

Before you start, check if you can apply for a citizenship certificate.

On this page

Documents proving Canadian citizenship of your parent, grandparent and parental ancestor

Your application must be supported by authentic, reliable and verifiable documents for every generation in your application.

 Your documents must

  • be issued by the original authority that created or keeps the record
    • This includes documents issued by a civil registry or a vital statistics office.
  • clearly show who issued the document

 Your application can’t be supported solely by third party records.

  • If you find records like these, official documents likely exist. You should request them from the original authority.

What we accept

You must include proof of parentage and Canadian citizenship for your Canadian parent, grandparent and parental ancestor as applicable. For each person, you must provide 1 or more of the following documents issued by the original authority:

  • provincial or territorial birth certificate

    If you’re missing any birth certificates

    If you don’t have a birth certificate or birth record for yourself or for any of your parental ancestors, you must send other documents to show parentage and Canadian citizenship. These must be issued by the original authority and can include:

    • hospital record of birth
    • record from a physician or midwife who witnessed the birth
    • baptismal certificate or record (including copies or certified records)
      • The baptism must have taken place within a reasonable time after the birth.
    • census records
    • boat manifest
  • birth certificate from another country that shows the parent-child relationship in each generation
  • Canadian citizenship or naturalization certificate
  • Certificate of Registration of Birth Abroad or Certificate of Retention of Canadian Citizenship
  • British naturalization certificate issued in Canada or Newfoundland and Labrador
  • proof of British subject status before January 1, 1947 (or April 1, 1949, for Newfoundland and Labrador)
  • proof of landed immigrant status in Canada before January 1, 1947 (or April 1, 1949, for Newfoundland and Labrador).

If you can’t provide official documents issued by the original authority

You must

  • explain in writing why you can’t provide the documents, and
  • show proof that you tried to get them
    • For example, include emails or letters with original authorities or confirmation saying that the records are not available.

We consider all the documents and information you submit when making a decision.

Apply online

If you’ve already applied on paper, do not apply online for the same request. If you do, we won’t process your online application.

You may be able to apply online for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship). If you can’t or don’t want to apply online, you can apply on paper.

You can apply online

If you’re applying for yourself

You can apply online if you were born on or after February 15, 1977, and you

  • became a naturalized Canadian citizen on or after April 17, 2009, or
  • were born outside of Canada to a parent who was:
    • born in Canada on or after February 15, 1977, or
    • granted Canadian citizenship on or after April 17, 2009

If you’re a parent applying on behalf of a child (under 18 years old)

You can apply if:

  • your child was granted Canadian citizenship on or after April 17, 2009, or
  • one of your child's parents was
    • born in Canada on or after February 15, 1977, or
    • became a naturalized Canadian citizen on or after April 17, 2009

If you’re applying for your child(ren):

  • you can only submit applications for 3 children at the same time
  • you must be the child’s biological parent or legal parent at birth
  • the reason for applying must be the same for everyone (for example, all of your children need to replace their lost certificates)

Before you start

To apply online, you need

Start your online application

In the account

Once you start your online application, you have 60 days to submit it.

The online application works best in Google Chrome.

Create an account or sign in
If you need urgent processing

We may be able to process your application faster in some cases.

Find out when and how to apply urgently

You need to apply on paper

You need to apply on paper if

  • you were born in Canada on or before February 14, 1977
  • you became a naturalized Canadian citizen on or before April 16, 2009
  • you were born outside of Canada to a parent who
    • was born in Canada on or before February 16, 1977, or
    • became a naturalized Canadian citizen on or before April 16, 2009
  • you’re applying for minors (under 18) for whom you’re the legal guardian
  • you or a minor was born in Canada
  • you need to replace or update your certificate
  • you’re applying for 2 to 3 children and only some of them are naturalized Canadian citizens
  • you’re applying for 4 or more children
  • you’re applying for a replacement certificate for yourself and your children
  • you don’t know information about your parents or grandparents
    • For example, you don’t know when your parent was born or if your grandparent was a crown servant.
  • the reason for applying is different for each person you’re applying for

Don’t apply online if you’ve already applied on paper, as we’re still processing your paper application. If you do, we won’t process your online application.

Apply on paper

Adopted minors born outside Canada: You need to apply for your adopted child’s Canadian citizenship

To get a citizenship certificate for your adopted child, you have 2 options:

Do not apply directly for a citizenship certificate (online or on paper).

Adopted adult born outside Canada: You need to apply for your Canadian citizenship

To get a citizenship certificate, you have 2 options:

Do not apply directly for a citizenship certificate (online or on paper).

Permanent resident minors: You need to apply for the child’s Canadian citizenship

To get a citizenship certificate, you must apply for the child to become a Canadian citizen(opens in a new tab) .

  • If we approve the application, they’ll get the certificate after the citizenship ceremony(opens in a new tab) .
  • Do not apply directly for a citizenship certificate (online or on paper). If you do, we’ll return your application.

Getting a certificate for the first time: You can’t apply together with an adopted child who was born outside Canada

You cannot apply for yourself and an adopted child (under 18) born outside Canada at the same time (online or on paper).

Adopted child born outside Canada

To get a citizenship certificate for your adopted child, you have 2 options:

Do not apply directly for a citizenship certificate (online or on paper).

If your adopted child was born in Canada, you can apply together on paper.

Applying for yourself (adult 18 years of age or older)

Change your answer to the question above to “Myself (Adult 18 years of age or older)” to find out how you can apply.

Apply on paper

You can apply on paper if you can’t or don’t want to apply online.

1. Get the application package

The package includes the instruction guide, forms and document checklist.

You must

  • download and print the checklist and the forms
  • fill out all the forms
  • include all documents listed in the document checklist
  • provide all documents in colour copies that are clear and easy to read

If your documents aren’t in English or French, you’ll need:

  • a translation of the documents
  • a sworn statement (affidavit) from the person who did the translation (we don’t accept translations by family members)
If you need urgent processing

We may be able to process your application faster in some cases.

Find out when and how to apply urgently

Get the application package

2. Pay the application fee

You can pay your fees online.

  • Methods of payment depend on where you’re applying from.
  • If you’re submitting more than one application at the same time, you can pay all the fees together.
  • You can’t get a refund once we start processing your application.
  • If you need help, check the payment instructions.

Pay your fees online (opens in a new tab)

3. Submit the application

Answer the following question to find out where to submit your application.

If you’re a parent or legal guardian applying for a minor child (under 18 years old)

Select the country or territory where the child lives:

If you’re applying for yourself

Select the country or territory where you live:

Where to submit your application if you’ve reclaimed your Indigenous name

To submit your application to apply for, update or replace your citizenship certificate with your reclaimed Indigenous name:

  1. Gather your documents, including the completed application form.

  2. Mail your completed application to one of the following addresses:

    Regular mail

    Case Processing Centre – Sydney – Proofs
    P.O. Box 10000
    Sydney, NS B1P 7C1

    Courier

    IRCC Digitization Centre – Proofs
    3050 Wilson Ave
    New Waterford, NS B1H 5V8

Track your application

We recommend that you use a postal or courier service with a tracking number to ensure you get proof that your application was delivered to the IRCC office.

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2026-07-17