Do you qualify for a Canadian citizenship certificates?…

The Canadian citizenship certificates is an official doc from the Authorities of Canada that serves as proof of 1’s Canadian citizenship.

If you happen to have been born exterior Canada, you could qualify for a Canadian citizenship certificates if not less than one among your mother and father was a Canadian citizen by delivery or naturalization previous to your delivery.

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Though you achieve citizenship at delivery routinely, you’ll want this proof of citizenship certificates as an official doc to use for a Canadian passport.

A Canadian citizenship certificates just isn’t a journey doc and won’t be accepted as such.

This text will delve into who can apply for a citizenship certificates and the way to take action, in addition to proposed adjustments to the first-generation restrict to citizenship by descent.

Who’s eligible for a Canadian citizenship certificates?

If you happen to have been born exterior Canada and have not less than one guardian—organic or authorized—who was born in Canada or grew to become a naturalized citizen earlier than your delivery, you might be possible a Canadian citizen and may apply for a certificates.

Being born exterior Canada and routinely inheriting citizenship from a Canadian guardian is named citizenship by descent, and is gained by the kid routinely underneath Canadian citizenship legislation.

Underneath present Canadian legislation, citizenship by descent is restricted to the primary era born overseas, that means that youngsters of residents by descent do not receive citizenship by descent. This restriction to citizenship by descent is known as the first-generation restrict (FGL).

Other than residents by descent, Canadians may also apply for a brand new citizenship certificates if their unique certificates has been misplaced, stolen, or broken, or if updates are required—as an example, attributable to a authorized identify change.

Adjustments to the FGL to citizenship by descent

Some individuals affected by the FGL should still have the ability to achieve Canadian citizenship, though they don’t at present achieve it routinely.

On March 13, 2025, the federal authorities launched interim measures enabling sure people impacted by the FGL to request discretionary grants of citizenship, contingent upon their guardian assembly a “substantial connection to Canada” check.

A considerable connection is outlined as having spent a minimal of three years (1,095) days) in Canada previous to their baby’s delivery or adoption.

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Invoice C-Three was launched on 5 June, 2025, and if signed into legislation in its present kind, would eradicate the FGL for kids of fogeys assembly the substantial connection to Canada check, thereby routinely granting citizenship to 1000’s of misplaced Canadians.

This invoice has entered its first studying, and should nonetheless proceed by means of two extra, be handed by each homes of Parliament, and obtain royal assent to develop into legislation.

First-generation restrict exceptions

Sure people could also be exempt from the present FGL and could also be eligible for a citizenship certificates.

The FGL doesn’t apply to people born exterior Canada within the second or later era if, on the time of their delivery, their Canadian guardian was employed overseas as a Crown servant with

• The Canadian Armed Forces;
• The federal public administration; or
• The general public service of a province or territory.

The identical applies if on the time of the guardian’s delivery or adoption, the Canadian grandparent held such a place.

The best way to apply for a Canadian citizenship certificates

Previous to submitting a citizenship certificates software, you should utilize IRCC’s “Am I a Canadian?” software to verify if you happen to or your baby could also be a Canadian citizen.

This software presents preliminary steerage solely. For an official affirmation of Canadian citizenship standing, one should apply for proof of citizenship.

The immigration division accepts each on-line and paper purposes.

Usually, submitting a citizenship certificates software consists of the next steps.

Step 1: Receive the appliance package deal, which consists of the instruction information, doc guidelines, and relevant kinds.

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Step 2: Collect and connect the related documentation outlined within the doc guidelines, together with the next:

• A dated and signed Utility for a Citizenship Certificates kind (CIT 0001).
• Two items of legitimate government-issued ID (equivalent to a driver’s license, passport, or well being card) that includes your identify and date of delivery—one among which should embody a photograph.
• Two equivalent photographs of your self, taken by a business photographer, which meet citizenship software photograph specs:
  • On-line purposes solely require you to incorporate one photograph.
• Translations (accompanied by affidavits from the translator(s)) for any paperwork not in English or French.
• A signed and dated use of a Consultant kind (IMM 5476), if you happen to used a paid or unpaid consultant.
• Further paperwork pertaining to your private state of affairs:
  • IRCC consists of seven attainable eventualities and particulars the documentation required for every.

Embrace in your software a letter of clarification for any paperwork which might be lacking, not submitted, or require clarification.

If a bit of a kind doesn’t apply to you, write “Not relevant” or “NA.”

Step Three: Pay the non-refundable citizenship certificates price, which is $75 per particular person. For households submitting a number of purposes for citizenship certificates, pay all of the charges concurrently.

You need to pay this price on-line or on to the Canadian embassy, excessive fee, or consulate the place you might be submitting your software (solely in case you are dwelling exterior Canada and the US or don’t have any web entry).

Embrace a replica of the receipt in your software and preserve one other in your private information.

Step four: Submit your software.

Paper softwares: If you happen to apply from inside Canada or the US, you’re going to get an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) by way of e-mail or mail (if no e-mail handle was included) with a 10-digit Distinctive Shopper Identifier (UCI).

Those that utilized exterior these areas will get an AOR from their location of submission or by means of e-mail, if supplied.

On-line purposes: You’ll obtain an AOR letter from IRCC in your on-line account, which can comprise your UCI.

Processing time

The processing time for citizenship certificates on the time of writing is not less than 5 months.

It could take longer for individuals who

• Reside exterior Canada and the US and utilized by means of a Canadian embassy, excessive fee, or consulate (add three to 4 months); or
• Are submitting an software to the Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia, for a minor who lives exterior Canada and the US (add six to eight months).

A while could move previous to IRCC starting to course of your software.

For extra complicated instances, they could request further paperwork or particulars, which might prolong the processing timeline.

Pressing processing of citizenship purposes could also be requested for sure eventualities, equivalent to needing entry to social advantages, for employment or training functions, or avoiding potential hurt or hardship attributable to race, faith, or sexual orientation.

Such requests should be accompanied by a proof letter and supporting documentation.

IRCC doesn’t assure certificates will arrive on time even when an applicant is eligible for pressing processing.

The best way to apply for a discretionary grant

To get a discretionary grant underneath the interim measures carried out on 13 March, it’s essential to first submit a whole software for a citizenship certificates.

In case you are affected by the FGL to citizenship by descent however consider you do qualify underneath the interim measures, IRCC will evaluate your software and

• Ship you a letter confirming the FGL continues to be in impact; and
• Invite you to request a discretionary grant of citizenship.
  • This implies your software will probably be reviewed and IRCC will resolve whether or not to grant you citizenship.

You may additionally be requested to offer further details about your mother and father’ connection to Canada.

You can’t request a discretionary grant of citizenship with out first being invited to take action.

Residents who needn’t apply for certificates

Youngsters born in Canada routinely achieve citizenship at delivery.* For these Canadians, their delivery certificates serves as proof of Canadian citizenship, so that they needn’t apply for citizenship certificates.

Naturalized Canadian residents routinely obtain citizenship certificates upon buying Canadian citizenship, so that they needn’t apply for certificates both.

*There are a number of exceptions, equivalent to youngsters of overseas diplomats.

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