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Canadian Citizenship

What does it mean to be a Canadian citizen?

Citizenship means working together with all other Canadians to build a stronger Canada, and making sure our values, dreams and goals are reflected in our institutions, laws and relationships with one another. Canada is a country that:

• is free and democratic;
• is multicultural;
• has two official languages; and
• extends equal treatment to all its citizens.

Each Canadian, whether a citizen by birth or by naturalization, enjoys certain fundamental rights and freedoms:

• the right to vote or to be a candidate for elections in Canada;
• the right to enter, remain in or leave Canada;
• the right to earn a living and reside in any province or territory;
• the right to be educated in the official language of their choice (English or French); and
• the right to apply for a Canadian passport.

Who is a Canadian citizen?

In most cases:

• you are a Canadian citizen if you were born in Canada;
• you are a Canadian citizen if you were born in another country after February 14, 1977, and one of your parents was a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth.

You may be a Canadian citizen if you were born in another country after February 14, 1977, to a Canadian parent who was also born in another country to a Canadian parent. If you think this applies to you, you may need to take steps to retain your citizenship before turning 28 years old. Contact the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Call Centre at 1 888 242-2100 (toll-free) for more information.

If you were born outside Canada before February 15, 1977, and one of your parents was a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth, contact the CIC Call Centre or Canadian embassy in your area for more information on citizenship.

Who can become a Canadian citizen?

To become a Canadian citizen:

• you must be 18 years of age or older;
• you must be a permanent resident who has lived in Canada for three of the four years preceding the application;
• you must be able to communicate in English or French; and
• you must have knowledge of Canada, including the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Minors: Parents or legal guardians may apply for citizenship on behalf of a minor (under 18 years of age) as soon as the minor receives permanent resident status. To apply on behalf of a minor, one parent must already be a Canadian citizen or must be applying to become a citizen at the same time.

Who cannot become a Canadian citizen?

In general, you cannot become a Canadian citizen if:

• you are in prison, on parole or on probation or you were in prison, on parole or on probation for a year or more in the past four years;
• you are currently charged with an indictable offence (a crime);
• you were convicted of an indictable offence or crime, or an offence under the Citizenship Act in the three years preceding your application;
• you are under a removal order;
• you are under investigation for or you were convicted of a war crime or a crime against humanity; or
• your Canadian citizenship has been taken away (revoked) in the past five years.

How do I apply for Canadian citizenship?

To apply for Canadian citizenship, you must complete the form “Application for Canadian Citizenship” and follow the instructions provided with the application. You must include a receipt of payment for the appropriate fees and the necessary documents with your application form. You can visit the CIC Web site at www.cic.gc.ca to download and print the application forms or contact the CIC Call Centre at 1 888 242-2100 (toll-free) to order the forms you need.

A copy of the booklet A Look at Canada will be sent to you with the acknowledgment of your application. If you are between the ages of 18 and 54, you will have to take a test based on the content of this booklet. The test will help determine if you meet the language and knowledge of Canada requirements. If you meet all the requirements for citizenship, you will be invited to a citizenship ceremony where you will take the oath of citizenship and receive your citizenship certificate.

Who is eligible to obtain a citizenship certificate?

The Canadian citizenship certificate is an official document issued by the Government of Canada as proof of Canadian citizenship status.

Any Canadian citizen is entitled to apply for a citizenship certificate. Citizens born in Canada may apply for a citizenship certificate if they wish, although provincial or territorial birth certificates are frequently sufficient to establish Canadian citizenship. Naturalized Canadians automatically receive a citizenship certificate when they become citizens.

If you wish to confirm your Canadian status, to update your citizenship certificate or to replace a lost, destroyed or stolen certificate, you must make an application for a Canadian citizenship certificate.

How do I apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate?

To apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate, you must complete the form “Application for a Citizenship Certificate” and follow the instructions provided with the application. A non-refundable processing fee must be paid at the time of the application. You must include a receipt of payment and the necessary documents with your application form. You can visit the CIC Web site at www.cic.gc.ca to download and print the application forms or contact the CIC Call Centre at 1 888 242-2100 (toll-free) to order the forms you need.

What is dual citizenship?

Dual or multiple citizenship means holding citizenship in one or more countries. Canada has recognized dual citizenship since 1977.

Some countries will not allow their citizens to keep their citizenship if they become citizens of another country. For information on the rules and laws for dual citizenship of other countries, you should contact the embassy or consulate of those countries.

What is the permanent resident card?

The permanent resident card (PR card) is a wallet-sized card that replaced the Record of Landing document (IMM 1000). On December 31, 2003, the permanent resident card became the proof of status document required by permanent residents seeking to re-enter Canada on a commercial carrier (airplane, boat, train or bus). All permanent residents, including children, need a valid PR card for re-entry into Canada on a commercial carrier.

A permanent resident with a PR card must surrender the PR card to CIC upon becoming a Canadian citizen. Canadian citizens may apply for a Canadian passport for international travel. For more information on the PR card, visit the Department’s Web site at www.cic.gc.ca or contact the CIC Call Centre at 1 800 255-4541 (toll-free).

Where should I go for more information on Canadian citizenship?

You can obtain information on CIC’s programs and services by consulting the Department’s Web site at www.cic.gc.ca. You can also download and print application forms.

If you are in Canada, you can contact the CIC Call Centre at 1 888 242-2100 (toll-free) for more information. The automated voice response system can provide you with answers to general questions 24 hours a day. You can also speak to an agent between normal business hours. If you are hearing impaired and you use a text telephone, you can access the TTY service at 1 888 576-8502 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. your local time.

If you are outside Canada, please contact the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate covering your region.

Other citizenship publications

• How to Become a Canadian Citizen
• A Look at Canada
• Dual Citizenship
• Retention of Canadian Citizenship
• Retention of Canadian Citizenship — Worksheet

Citizenship and Immigration Canada publications can be found on the Department’s Web site at www.cic.gc.ca or ordered from:

Distribution Services
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Ottawa, ON K1A 1L1
Fax: (613) 954-2221

This is not a legal document. For legal information, consult the Citizenship Act and Regulations. This brochure is a digest of many sources and should not be confused with official statements of policy or programming.

© Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2005
Cat. no. Ci51-186/2005
ISBN 0-662-68884-8
C&I--699-03-05