Proof of citizenship

Being Canadian is one thing. Proving it, on paper, is another, and it often comes up at the worst moment: a passport application, a new job, a pension, or a trip you are excited about. If you have ever dug through a drawer looking for a certificate you have not seen in years, you are not alone. The good news is that the rules are clear once you know them. This guide explains which documents count as proof of Canadian citizenship, who needs a citizenship certificate, how to apply and track it, how to replace a lost one, and how a certificate differs from a passport.

What counts as proof of citizenship

• A citizenship certificate, electronic or paper. Older paper certificates are still valid.
• A citizenship card. IRCC stopped issuing these in February 2012, but they are still valid. The date on the card is when it was made, not when you became a citizen. Do not laminate it.
• A birth certificate issued by a Canadian province or territory, with a few exceptions (see below).
• A naturalization certificate issued before January 1, 1947.
• A registration of birth abroad certificate, or a certificate of retention, issued between January 1, 1947 and February 14, 1977.

Some documents look official but are not accepted as proof. These include the letter you get from a search of citizenship records, the commemorative certificate that came with a citizenship card, the DND 419 birth certificates the Department of National Defence issued to children of Canadian Forces members born abroad before November 1979, and a Canadian birth certificate when, at the time of birth, a parent worked for a foreign government or international organization with diplomatic privileges and neither parent was a citizen or permanent resident. Also keep in mind that proof of citizenship is not an identity document and not a travel document.

Who needs a citizenship certificate

• People born outside Canada to a Canadian parent. This is the most common reason to apply, including people who became citizens under Bill C-3.
• People born in Canada usually do not need one, because a provincial or territorial birth certificate should be enough. You can still apply if you want one.
• People who become citizens by naturalization do not apply separately. You receive your certificate at your citizenship ceremony.
• People who need to replace or update a certificate, for example after a legal name change, or who are unsure whether they are citizens and want IRCC to check.

If you were born abroad, our guide to citizenship by descent after Bill C-3 explains whether you are likely a citizen. If you are becoming a citizen by applying, see the citizenship ceremony guide for what happens on the day you receive your certificate.

Electronic or paper certificate

There are two formats with the same information: your unique client identifier (UCI), name, date of birth, gender and the date you became a citizen. An electronic certificate (e-certificate) has a number starting with "X". You download it and can print it, and some applications may ask for a printed copy. A paper certificate has a number starting with "K" and arrives by mail. Right now, IRCC is testing e-certificates only with some adopted children born abroad, by invitation. If you decline the invitation, you get a paper certificate if you are approved. Most people today receive paper.

How to apply for a citizenship certificate

1. 01

   Check whether you can apply online

   Online applications are open to some adults born on or after February 15, 1977, and to parents applying for up to 3 children for the same reason. You must apply on paper in other cases, including if you are replacing or updating a certificate, applying for 4 or more children, or do not know details about your parents or grandparents.

2. 02

   Gather your documents

   IRCC needs authentic records from the original authority, such as a civil registry, for you and each generation your claim depends on. Documents not in English or French need a translation and the translator's affidavit. Paper applications also need two identical citizenship photos, unattached.

3. 03

   Pay the fee

   The fee for a citizenship certificate on IRCC's fee list is $75. Fees are not refunded once processing starts, and are not refunded if IRCC finds you are not a citizen.

4. 04

   Submit only once

   Online, you have 60 days to submit after you start. On paper, mail to the address for where you live, with a tracked service. Do not send both an online and a paper application for the same request, or the online one will not be processed.

5. 05

   Watch for your acknowledgement

   Once your application is complete, IRCC sends an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) and your UCI. If anything is missing, an online application gets a message in your account, and a paper one is returned.

Tracking your application

If you applied online, sign in to your account to see your status. If you applied on paper, you can check your status online once you have your AOR. IRCC does not promise a set timeline. It depends on how complete your file is, how easily IRCC can verify it and how fast you answer requests, so check the official processing times tool. Applying through an embassy or consulate outside Canada and the U.S. adds about 3 to 4 months for mailing. Urgent processing may be possible in some cases, but you must show proof of the urgency. When approved, a paper certificate is mailed to your address in Canada or the U.S., or to the embassy or consulate you chose if you live elsewhere.

Replacing a lost, stolen or damaged certificate

Losing a certificate feels awful, but it can be replaced. Replacements, and updates for errors or outdated information, must be made on paper with the same $75 fee. You can only hold one valid certificate, so send in your current original if you still have it. When the new one is approved, the old one is cancelled. If you have an e-certificate, delete and destroy any printed or digital copies when you apply, and do not download another copy until IRCC decides. If you still have an old citizenship card, a replacement comes as a certificate.

Certificate or passport: what is the difference?

A citizenship certificate proves that you are a Canadian citizen. It is not a travel document and does not prove who you are. A Canadian passport is the travel document you use to leave and come back to Canada. They work together: if you were born abroad, you usually use your citizenship certificate to apply for your first Canadian passport, and IRCC recommends getting both before you travel. One exception for families: children 15 and under travelling between Canada and the U.S. by land or sea can use a birth certificate, citizenship certificate or citizenship card instead of a passport. From 16, they need a passport to enter the U.S.

Searching citizenship records

A search of citizenship records ($75) confirms when and how someone became a citizen. People use it for things like family history, a pension application, or renewing a foreign passport. You can ask about yourself, or about someone else with their permission and proof of your relationship. For a person who died less than 20 years ago, information is generally not released except, in some cases, to the executor. If IRCC finds the record, you get a letter, valid for 1 year. That letter is not proof of citizenship and cannot be used for a passport. For proof, apply for a certificate.

Renouncing or resuming citizenship

• Renouncing means giving up Canadian citizenship. Generally you must be 18 or older, live outside Canada, and be or become a citizen of another country. The fee is $100. Afterward you have no status in Canada. People who became citizens automatically through changes to the Citizenship Act have fewer requirements and, when applying under section 7.1 of the Citizenship Regulations, no fee.
• Resuming is for former citizens who have since become permanent residents. Generally you need at least 365 days of physical presence in Canada as a permanent resident in the 2 years before you apply, and to have filed your taxes for the year before. The fee is $530 for an adult and $100 for a minor.