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Citizenship certificate: proof of Canadian citizenship

Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked

Short answer

A citizenship certificate is the federal document that proves you are a Canadian citizen. You can apply online or on paper to get one for the first time, replace a lost one or update your name. The fee is $75. People born in Canada can usually use their birth certificate instead, and the certificate is not a travel document.

Who handles it

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Handles it everywhere in Canada.

Canada Service Map is independent and not a government website. The official page always has the final word.

Who can apply

  • A citizenship certificate proves you are a Canadian citizen. You can use it to get services and benefits, such as a pension, or to apply for a passport.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

  • Citizens apply to get proof of citizenship, to replace a lost, destroyed or stolen certificate, or to update a certificate after a legal name change.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

  • If you were born in Canada, a provincial or territorial birth certificate is usually enough to prove citizenship, though you may still apply for a certificate.

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  • If you were born outside Canada, you may be a citizen if a parent was a Canadian citizen when you were born, with some limits. For births on or after December 15, 2025, a Canadian parent born abroad must have spent 1,095 days in Canada before the birth.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Steps

  1. You may be able to apply online. If you cannot or prefer not to, apply on paper with the application package, which has the guide, forms and document checklist.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

What you need

  • Send clear colour copies of every document on the checklist. Documents not in English or French need a translation and a sworn statement from the translator, who cannot be a family member.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Cost

  • The fee for a citizenship certificate is $75.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

How long it takes

  • If you live outside Canada and the US and apply through a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate, add 3 to 4 months to the processing time for mailing.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Good to know

  • People who become citizens through the regular citizenship process get their certificate at the citizenship ceremony and do not need to apply separately.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

  • Citizenship cards are no longer issued. If you apply to update or replace a card, you get a citizenship certificate instead.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Questions people ask

How much does a Canadian citizenship certificate cost?

The fee is $75 for each certificate.

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Do I need a citizenship certificate if I was born in Canada?

Usually not. A birth certificate from your province or territory should be enough to prove you are a citizen, but you can still apply for a certificate if you want one.

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Can I travel with my citizenship certificate?

No. It is not a travel document, so you need a valid passport or travel document to travel abroad. Children 15 and under can use it to enter the US or return to Canada by land or sea.

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How do I find out if I am a Canadian citizen?

If you are not sure, for example because you were born abroad to a Canadian parent, you can apply for a citizenship certificate. The decision tells you for sure.

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Can I get an electronic citizenship certificate?

Yes. If you ask for an e-certificate, the link to it appears in your IRCC secure account when your application is approved.

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Do I get my fee back if I am not a citizen?

No. If IRCC finds you are not a Canadian citizen, you get a refusal letter and the fee is not refunded.

Source: canada.cachecked #

Cite this page

Canada Service Map, "Citizenship certificate: proof of Canadian citizenship", checked 13 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/citizenship-certificate