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
  • Top download issues
• 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.

In June 2022, we started testing the e-certificate with some people who applied for Canadian citizenship. As of January 2023, most people applying for citizenship can now choose to get an e-certificate when applying. Paper certificates are still an option.

How to get an e-certificate

The e-certificate is available when you apply:

• to become a Canadian citizen (citizenship grant)
• for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship)
• to resume your Canadian citizenship after giving it up

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

You can only have 1 valid citizenship certificate: paper or electronic. Learn more about replacing or updating your citizenship certificate.

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:

1. 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. You must request a new invitation code using your own email in the IRCC portal.
   • The letter has other helpful information about your e-certificate, such as where in the IRCC Portal you can download the file.
2. Follow the letter’s instructions to download your e-certificate (a PDF file).
   • Create an IRCC Portal account to download the e-certificate.
     • 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. This may be the one that
       • you put on your online application or paper application form
       • you provided after you applied (for example, by using our web form to update your information)
     • If you applied online, the IRCC Portal is different from the account where you submitted your application.
       You cannot reuse your
       • password for your online citizenship application account (if you applied to become a Canadian citizen)
       • GCKey or Sign-In Partner information for your IRCC secure account (if you applied for a citizenship certificate)
   • 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.

If you did not get download instructions, please check your spam or junk folder. If you still can’t find instructions after checking, you can:

• contact us or
• request an invitation code in the IRCC portal yourself
  • You’ll need to use a different email than the one you applied with.

Email address for e-certificate download

The last email address you gave us may be the one that

• you put on your online application or paper application form
• you provided after you applied (for example, by using our web form to update your information)

If you applied online

When you create an IRCC Portal account, your password must be unique to the account.

You cannot reuse your

• password for your online citizenship application account (if you applied to become a Canadian citizen)
• GCKey or Sign-In Partner information for your IRCC secure account (if you applied for a citizenship certificate)

If you applied as a family or a group with 1 email address

To download the individual e-certificates, provide the following information for each person on the “Download Citizenship e-Certificate” page of the IRCC Portal:

• application number(opens in a new tab) .
• unique client identifier (UCI) (opens in a new tab) .
• date of birth

Top download issues

Need help? Find solutions to common issues when downloading the e-certificate:

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
    • Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Firefox
    • Safari on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
    • Safari on your desktop

If you still can’t view or download the certificate after trying the above, contact us.

The invite code for the IRCC Portal doesn’t work

To solve or avoid any issues

• where possible, copy and paste the code
• if you must type it, check that you entered the code correctly
  • The letters in the code are case-sensitive, and some characters appear similar.
    • For example, I(i) and L(l).
• you can also get a new code
  • To do this, you need to use a different email than the one you applied with.

If you still have issues after trying the solutions above, contact us.

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, you can request a new code using the IRCC portal. You need to use a different email than the one you applied with.

You get the message “The email and invitation code do not match, or the invitation code has been used”

• The email address you gave us in your application is linked to the invitation code in your download instructions.
  • If you used a representative, the invitation code in the download instructions is associated with their email address. You need to request a new code using your email address in the IRCC portal.
• Double check which email you applied with.
• If you find an error in the email address that we have for you, you can use the correct spelling of your email address and request a new code using the IRCC portal.
  • For example, you found a typo or missing letter
• Follow the remaining steps in the download instructions.

You get the message “Please try again in 2 to 5 business days after providing your signed Oath of Citizenship”

If you’ve waited 2 to 5 business days after returning your signed oath form to us, you should contact us.

Minors (14 and younger) who applied for citizenship with a parent

You can’t download your e-certificate until your parent has taken their oath of citizenship and returned their signed oath form to us.

If your parents have returned their signed oath form to us and you’ve waited 2 to 5 business days, contact us.

You get the message “Information you provided does not correspond with our database”

Double check you’ve entered all your information correctly, including your date of birth, UCI, application number and all other information.

If you’ve confirmed your information is all entered correctly and it still doesn’t work, 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.

If you’re refused any services when using an e-certificate

Email us at IRCC.ECertificatePilot-PiloteCertificatE.IRCC@cic.gc.ca.

In your email, tell us:

• your full name
• a detailed description of the issue including the name of the office and address where you’re being refused service
• 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):

Some Canadian provincial and territorial organizations may have access to the Validation Web Portal.

If your organization has access to the IRCC Validation Web Portal

You can use the portal to check the validity of both the e-certificate and the paper certificate

If your organization doesn’t have access to the Validation Web Portal

• learn more about e-certificates
• learn about the information listed on the e-certificate
• contact us with further questions at IRCC.ECertificatePilot-PiloteCertificatE.IRCC@cic.gc.ca