Chapter CP 10 - Proof of Citizenship

Section 3 - Replacing certificates with errors

3.1 This section is about

replacing certificates with errors made by citizenship officials

3.2 Authorities

3.3 Replacing certificate due to error

An applicant may ask for a replacement citizenship certificate if the original certificate is not acceptable because of an error by a citizenship official. This could include, for example, a misspelling or poor lamination.

3.4 No fee for request within 90 days

A replacement certificate will be prepared free of charge if the applicant makes the request:

within 90 days from the date the Oath was taken

or

within 90 days of the date the original certificate was mailed from CPC-Sydney.

After 90 days, the applicant must complete a proof application and pay the appropriate fee. See Fees and Refunds in Chapter 1.

3.5 Applicant must surrender original

An applicant asking for a replacement certificate must surrender the original to the Citizenship office before receiving the replacement certificate.

3.6 Send requests to CPC-Sydney

The request for a replacement certificate is sent to CPC-Sydney, with a note explaining why a replacement certificate should be issued. If there are supporting documents, include them with the request.

The commemoration document must be surrendered at the time the request for replacement is made. The original certificate may be included with the request, or the original and replacement certificates may be exchanged at the citizenship office if the client requires the certificate for urgent purposes.

See section on Exchanging Certificates.

3.7 Speed important for replacements

Citizenship records about applicants are designated as "essential records" by the National Archives. This means that these records must be microfilmed and a copy sent to the Archives within 90 days of mailing a certificate or the Oath being put on file.

Once a record is microfilmed, the originals are shredded.

Because of this, send applications and the photo, which remains on file, to CPC-Sydney as soon as possible so the applicant's second photograph, which remained on file, can be used on the replacement certificate