Learn more about the electronic citizenship certificate
The electronic citizenship certificate (e-certificate)(opens in a new tab) is the digital format of the Canadian citizenship certificate. It’s one of the documents you can use to prove your Canadian citizenship.
On this page
- The launch of the e-certificate
- How to get an e-certificate
- View and download your e-certificate
- What you can do with an e-certificate
- Valid formats of the e-certificate
- Print an e-certificate
- Contact us
- If your organization receives e-certificates
The launch of the e-certificate
Since February 2012, successful applicants have received paper citizenship certificates as proof of Canadian citizenship.
To modernize and improve our citizenship services, we launched the electronic format of the certificate in 2 phases:
- In June 2022, we tested (piloted) the e-certificates by selecting some people who applied for Canadian citizenship or a citizenship certificate. The pilot allowed us to get feedback and improve the e-certificate before we made it available to more people.
- Starting January 2023, most citizenship applicants can choose to receive an e-certificate when they apply. A paper certificate is still an option.
How to get an e-certificate
The e-certificate is available when you apply
Exceptions for some citizenship applications
If you apply as a stateless person born to a Canadian parent, the certificate is available in paper format only at this time.
If you apply for an adopted child who was born abroad
- we’re still piloting (testing) the e-certificate
- most applicants will get a paper certificate if we approve the application
We’re working to make sure the e-certificate is available to all successful citizenship applicants in the future.
You’ll get the e-certificate if
- you choose the e-certificate format in your paper application form or online application
- If you apply on paper, you must provide an email address in the application form.
- we approve your application
View and download your e-certificate
Unlike a paper certificate, you can download the e-certificate instead of waiting for us to mail it to you.
Follow these steps to view and download your e-certificate:
If we approve your application, we’ll give you a letter with instructions on how to download the certificate. How you receive the letter depends on what you applied for.
Most citizenship applications
This includes
- online and paper applications to become a Canadian citizen
- paper applications for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship)
- applications to resume Canadian citizenship after giving it up (paper application only)
If you applied for any of the above, we’ll send the letter to the last email address you gave us.
Online application for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship)
In most cases, you’ll get the letter in your IRCC secure account.
- If you asked us to communicate with you through email after you applied, we’ll send the letter to the last email address you gave us.
- If you applied with the help of a representative, we’ll email them the letter.
If you applied with the help of a representative
Your representative will receive the letter with instructions on how to download your e-certificate.
To download your e-certificate without going through your representative, use this page to create your own IRCC Portal account.
You may still ask your representative to forward you the instructions letter.
- Do not use the invite code in the letter.
- The letter has other helpful information about your e-certificate (such as where in the IRCC Portal you can download the file).
- Follow the letter’s instructions to download your e-certificate (a PDF file).
- To download the e-certificate, create an IRCC Portal account.
- Check the letter for the invite code to create your account.
- When you create your account, you must use the last email address you gave us.
- If you applied online, the IRCC Portal is different from the account where you submitted your application.
- If you already have an IRCC Portal account, sign in to download your e-certificate.
- If you applied as a family or group with 1 email address, you can download all e-certificates in the same IRCC Portal account.
- To download the e-certificate, create an IRCC Portal account.
If you applied to become a Canadian citizen or resume your citizenship
We send the letter with the instructions on how to download the e-certificate shortly before you get the invitation to your citizenship ceremony.
- You can create an IRCC Portal account after you get the instruction letter, but you can’t download the e-certificate until you
- attend the ceremony and
- sign the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form (you’ll get it in the ceremony invitation or at the ceremony)
- The e-certificate will be available in the IRCC Portal within 5 business days of our receipt of your signed Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form.
If an applicant doesn’t go to the ceremony
Successful applicants don’t need to go to the ceremony if they
- have a waiver (exemption) or
- are minors under 14
In this case, they can download the e-certificate in the IRCC Portal within 24 hours of our approval of the application. To find out if we’ve approved your application, check your application status regularly.
Top download issues
Need help? Find solutions to common issues when downloading the e-certificate:
If you can’t view or download the e-certificate
If you can’t access the e-certificate in the IRCC Portal, try any of the following:
- close all other programs, applications or windows
- disable your virtual private network (VPN)
- clear your browser’s history or cache
- Find out how to do this in
If you still can’t view or download the certificate after trying the above, contact us.
If the invite code for the IRCC Portal doesn’t work
To solve or avoid any issues
- where possible, copy and paste the code instead of typing it manually
- if you must type it manually, check that you entered the code correctly
- The letters in the code are case-sensitive.
- Common issue: If your code has an “I” in it, this can be a capital “i” or lowercase “L”.
If you still have issues after trying the solutions above, contact us.
If you don’t get an invite code
This may be because you already have an IRCC Portal account.
- In this case, you can sign in to your existing account.
- If you forget your password, you can recover it.
If you don’t have an IRCC Portal account and don’t get a code, contact us.
What you can do with an e-certificate
You can view and download your e-certificate as many times as you want. After downloading an e-certificate, you can
- save it to any device (desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile phone)
- print it as many times you want
- use it to apply for various services and benefits
Valid formats of the e-certificate
The e-certificate is always a valid proof of citizenship even when you
- print it
- display it on your device
- send it as a file attachment
When applying for a service, benefit or job, you must still follow the requirements for your application. For example
- you may have to provide the e-certificate in a specific file type (such as jpg or png)
- if you apply for a new adult passport, you must print your e-certificate
How to print an e-certificate
If you need to print the e-certificate, you must do it in a certain way for it to be a valid document.
To do this, you must print both pages
- on letter size (8.5 x 11 inches) paper
- in colour or black ink
- in portrait orientation
The information on the printed certificate must be
- legible (clear and easy to read)
- fully visible (not cut-off)
You can choose
- the type of printer paper (such as photocopy paper or cardstock)
- to print it double-sided or not
- You can print on 2 pieces of paper and staple them (check the instructions for your application to be sure).
If you print an e-certificate, do not photocopy or laminate it. If you do, the certificate will become invalid.
Contact us
You can contact us if
- an organization refuses to give you a service, benefit or job (because they’re unfamiliar with the e-certificate format and think it’s an invalid document)
- you need to correct a mistake on your e-certificate
- you have any other issues or questions about your e-certificate
How you contact us depends on your citizenship application.
Most applications to become a Canadian citizen (citizenship grant)
This includes applications for
- adults (18 and above)
- minors between 14 and 17 years old
- Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members
If there’s a mistake on your e-certificate
Find out how to correct and replace it.
For other issues
Email the office that sent you the ceremony invitation. If possible, reply directly to your invitation email, so we can answer you faster.
In your email, provide
- a detailed description of the issue
- your application number(opens in a new tab)
- your unique client identifier (UCI)(opens in a new tab)
- your date of birth
Other citizenship applications
This includes applications
- for a minor 13 and under to become a Canadian citizen
- for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship)
- to resume Canadian citizenship after giving it up
If there’s a mistake on your e-certificate
Find out how to correct and replace it.
For other issues
Email us at IRCC.ECertificatePilot-PiloteCertificatE.IRCC@cic.gc.ca.
In your email, provide
- a detailed description of the issue
- your application number(opens in a new tab)
- your unique client identifier (UCI)(opens in a new tab)
- your date of birth
If your organization receives e-certificates
Your organization may receive e-certificates from your applicants if they
- apply for a service, benefit or job with your organization
- must prove their Canadian citizenship as part of the application
Regardless of the format, the e-certificate from your applicant is valid proof of their Canadian citizenship.
How to check if an e-certificate is valid (legitimate):
If your organization has a service agreement with us
If your organization has a service agreement with us (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or IRCC)
- we would have already given your organization access to the Validation Portal
- you can use the portal to check the validity of an e-certificate (or a paper certificate)
If your organization doesn’t have a service agreement with us
You can
- learn about the information on the e-certificate
- review the information on this page
- email us at IRCC.ECertificatePilot-PiloteCertificatE.IRCC@cic.gc.ca
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