Invalid proofs of Canadian citizenship
You can’t use the following documents to prove your Canadian citizenship:
Citizenship record letters
If you apply for a search of citizenship records, the record letter you receive is not a valid proof of Canadian citizenship.
Commemorative certificates
The commemorative certificate that came with your citizenship card is not a valid proof of Canadian citizenship (even though it has the date you became a Canadian citizen).
Some birth certificates
Your Canadian birth certificate doesn’t prove your citizenship if when you were born:
- none of your parents were a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada and
- at least 1 of your parents worked for a foreign government/international organization
We also don’t accept DND 419 birth certificates as proof of citizenship.
If you can’t use your birth certificate as proof of citizenship, apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate.
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