Who can apply
This page explains who is eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship as a stateless person, what it means to be a stateless person and who should fill out the forms.
On this page
Who can use this application
If you applied as a stateless person before December 15, 2025
On December 15, 2025, the Government of Canada passed Bill C-3 to change the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent. If you meet the new requirements for citizenship by descent, we’ll contact you for next steps.
This application is only for stateless people who meet certain conditions. A person is stateless if no country or state recognizes them as a citizen or national.
To be eligible for this application, you must be a stateless person and meet all of these other conditions:
- You were born outside Canada on or after December 15, 2025.
- If you were born before this date but you meet the other requirements, check if you may already be a Canadian citizen.
- You have a parent who was a Canadian citizen when you were born, but you do not meet the requirements for citizenship by descent.
- You have been stateless for your whole life. This means
- you did not automatically become a citizen of any of your parents’ countries of citizenship because of the citizenship laws of those countries
- you did not acquire citizenship from the country you were born in
- you have never applied for and been granted citizenship by any country
- You have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) of the 4 years immediately before you apply.
- You’re under 23 years old when you apply.
Even if you meet the requirements above, you may not be eligible for a grant of citizenship if you were one of the following:
- the subject of a declaration by the Governor in Council under section 20 of the Citizenship Act
- You would be notified in writing if this applied to you.
- convicted of any of these offences:
- treason or related offences (sections 47, 51, or 52 of the Criminal Code)
- espionage or related offences (subsection 5(1) or sections 6, and 16 to 22 of the Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act)
- conspiring or attempting to commit, being an accessory after the fact in relation to, or counselling in relation to any of the above offences
- terrorism (section 2 of the Criminal Code)
Who should fill out the forms
Adults (18 years or older): Complete the application yourself.
Minors (under 18 years old): A parent or guardian can apply for the minor, but the minor is still considered the applicant.
If you’re applying for a minor, remember that at least one parent must have been a Canadian citizen when the minor was born.