- electronic certificates (e-certificates)
- paper certificates
- older paper citizenship certificates
- some birth certificates
- naturalization certificates
Citizenship certificates
A citizenship certificate is an official document that proves your Canadian citizenship. You’ll get the certificate after we approve your application
- to become a Canadian citizen (citizenship grant)
- for a Canadian citizenship certificate
- to resume your Canadian citizenship after giving it up
When you apply, you need to choose between the electronic or paper format of the certificate in your application.
Exceptions for some citizenship applicationsIf you apply as a stateless person born to a Canadian parent, the certificate is available in paper format only at this time.
- we’re still piloting (testing) the e-certificate
- most applicants will get a paper certificate if we approve the application
We’re working to make sure the e-certificate is available to all successful citizenship applicants in the future.
Citizenship application for an adopted person born outside Canada (e-certificate pilot)
We’re still testing the e-certificate with some applicants who applied for an adopted person who was born abroad (opens in a new tab)
How the pilot (test) works
If we select you to participate in the pilot, you
- will receive an invitation by email
- may accept or decline the invitation
- If you accept the invitation, follow the email’s instructions for your next steps.
- If you decline the invitation, you’ll get a paper certificate (opens in a new tab) if we approve your application.
You’ll only receive an e-certificate if
- you accept the pilot invitation and
- we approve your application
You do not need to contact us. We’re working to make the e-certificate available to all successful applicants in the future.
Participating in the pilot does not mean we’ll approve your application or process it faster.
Electronic certificates (e-certificates)
The e-certificate is the digital format of the citizenship certificate. It’s a valid proof of Canadian citizenship that has
- a certificate number that starts with an "X"
- This is the only difference with a paper certificate (where the number starts with a "K")
- download and print the e-certificate
- contact us if there are any issues
Effective date of citizenship
The effective date depends on your citizenship application.
If you applied to become a Canadian citizen or resume your citizenship
The effective date is either
- the date of the citizenship ceremony or
- the date we approved your application, which applies to
- adopted children who were born abroad
- minors under 14
- those with a ceremony waiver (exemption)
The effective date is your date of birth if
- your Canadian parent passed down their citizenship to you (for example, you were born abroad to a Canadian parent) or
- you were born in Canada (for example, you have never had a citizenship certificate and want to have one)
The effective date will be the date we restored your citizenship if you applied for the certificate because you’re affected by a change in citizenship law (opens in a new tab) .
Example of an e-certificate
Paper certificates
A paper certificate is a 8½ x 11-inch document that’s valid proof of citizenship. It has the same information as an e-certificate:
- the certificate number that starts with a "K"
- This is the only difference with an electronic certificate (where the number starts with an "X")
Example of a paper citizenship certificate
Older paper citizenship certificates
We gave out different citizenship certificates in the past. These older certificates are still valid as proof of Canadian citizenship.
Examples of older citizenship certificates
Citizenship cards
If you have a citizenship card, it’s still a valid proof of Canadian citizenship.
- The date on your citizenship card is not the date you became a Canadian citizen (it’s the date we produced the card).
- To update or replace your citizenship card, apply for a citizenship certificate.
Example of a citizenship card
Other acceptable proofs
- birth certificates from a Canadian province or territory (there are exceptions)
- naturalization certificates issued before January 1, 1947
- registration of birth abroad certificates issued between January 1, 1947 and February 14, 1977
- certificates of retention issued between January 1, 1947 and February 14, 1977
When and how to use a proof of citizenship
You can use the proof document as evidence of your Canadian citizenship when applying for
- a Canadian passport
- a pension or government benefit
- your social insurance number (SIN)
- a job
- and more
Make sure you follow the instructions for your application.
- You may have to submit the original or a copy of the proof.
- If you have an e-certificate, you may need to print it.
You cannot use a proof of citizenship as
- a passport or travel document
- an identity document
- A citizenship proof is evidence of your Canadian citizenship, but it doesn’t prove your identity.
If you’re travelling abroad or returning to Canada
Proof of citizenship is not a passport or travel document.
- For example, a border agent at an airport won’t accept a citizenship certificate or card as a passport replacement.
- To travel abroad and return to Canada, you must have a valid passport or travel document (opens in a new tab) .
If there’s no passport, they can use
- a Canadian citizenship card
- an original or a copy of their Canadian birth certificate
- It should be issued by the province or territory where they were born.
When they turn 16, they will need a passport to enter the US.
Don’t re-laminate or laminate your proof of citizenship
Re-laminating or laminating a proof of citizenship document will make it invalid.
If you have a citizenship card, it was already laminated when you received it from us. You must not re-laminate the card (even if the original lamination peeled) because it will
- blur the security features of the original laminate
- make it difficult to detect a fake card
If you have other proofs (such as a printed e-certificate, paper citizenship certificate or birth certificate), don’t laminate them because it can affect the readability of the document.
Protect your proof of citizenship
To prevent loss, misuse or fraud, be sure to keep your proof of citizenship document in a secure location (whether it’s a digital file or paper document).
If you lost a proof of citizenship document
You can replace a lost proof of citizenship document. How you replace it depends on the type of proof that was lost.
- Citizenship certificate
- Citizenship card
- Naturalization certificate
- Registration of birth abroad certificate
- Certificate of retention
Contact the provincial or territorial authority that issued your birth certificate.
- This will give you a citizenship certificate and not a birth certificate (if we approve your application).
