Citizenship for your adopted child: After you apply

Processing your application

Part 1: Confirm your Canadian citizenship

We’ll let you know when we receive Part 1 of your application.

In Part 1, we verify that

Processing time

 Varies ?

  • at least 1 parent can pass on Canadian citizenship to the adopted child, or
  • for adoptions that took place prior to January 1, 1947
    • at least 1 adoptive parent became a Canadian citizen on January 1, 1947 (or April 1, 1949, if the child was adopted in Newfoundland and Labrador before April 1, 1949)

After we assess Part 1, you receive a decision letter.

  • If we approve your application, the letter tells you when and where to submit Part 2.
  • If we don’t approve, the letter explains why.

Part 2: Check if your adopted child can become a Canadian citizen

If we approve Part 2 of your application, the adopted child is granted citizenship and receives a certificate of Canadian citizenship.

  • If you live in Canada or the United States, we’ll mail the certificate to your address.
  • If you live outside Canada and the United States, we’ll mail it to your closest visa office.

Electronic citizenship certificate (e-certificate) pilot

We’re testing the e-certificates with some applicants.

  • The e-certificate is valid proof of Canadian citizenship.
  • You can use the e-certificate to access services and benefits the same as you would a paper certificate.

You do not need to contact us. We’re working to make the e-certificate available to all applicants in the future.

If we need more information to review your application

We’ll contact you to request additional information or documents.

Check your application status

You can check your application status online to find out where we are with your application.

Find out what your application status means

Check your application status

When to contact us

During processing, contact us online through our web form if

Contact us

The adopted child’s passport or travel document

To avoid unnecessary expenses and disappointment, don’t plan to return to Canada with the adopted child until we approve the child’s citizenship application. This is necessary for the adopted child’s protection.

You must get a passport or a travel document for the adopted child to travel to Canada. Once citizenship is granted, you may apply for

  • a Canadian passport through a Canadian embassy, high commission or consular office outside Canada, or
  • a facilitation visa from the Canadian visa office that processed the citizenship application, if the child will be travelling to Canada on the passport of their home country
    • You must show the visa and passport at the port of entry when the child arrives in Canada.

The adoption agency in your province or territory may be able to advise you where to apply for the child’s passport from his or her home country.

Leave plenty of time to get the passport or the facilitation visa before you bring the child to Canada.

Health care, travel health and adoption

Find information on

  • the health needs of adopted children
  • travel health for adoptive parents and children

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