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A citizenship certificate is the official document proving a person is a Canadian citizen, whether by birth, descent, or grant. People apply for it to confirm their status, replace a lost certificate, or update their details. It is not the same as a passport, though it can be used to support a passport application.
Canadian citizens who need to prove their citizenship or replace or update a certificate.
Our licensed advisors assess your eligibility, build a strategy to strengthen your application, and manage the process end to end, so you submit a complete, competitive application with confidence.
A citizenship certificate proves you are a citizen but is not a travel document, while a passport is a travel document; you usually use the certificate to help obtain the passport.
To apply for a Proof of Citizenship, also known as a Citizenship Certificate, there are several key requirements that must be met.
For people born abroad to a Canadian parent, the citizenship certificate issued by IRCC is the standard proof of Canadian citizenship.
It is mainly for people who are already Canadian citizens but have no proof, such as those born outside Canada to a Canadian parent, or anyone replacing a lost, damaged or outdated certificate.
You should apply for a replacement citizenship certificate using the standard IRCC proof-of-citizenship application, since your citizenship itself does not change when the document is lost.
Adult and minor proof-of-citizenship applications are completed using the IRCC application form and sent, with the required supporting documents, to the designated Case Processing Centre.
No. A citizenship certificate proves that you are a Canadian citizen, but it is not a travel document or photo identification, so you still need a valid passport to travel.
A Proof of Citizenship, also known as a Citizenship Certificate, is an official document that confirms a person's status as a Canadian citizen.
