All information provided are directly from IRCC Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
How to apply
On this page
Get an application package
The application package includes the instruction guide and all the forms you need to fill out. Use the instruction guide and the document checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything.
Choose the application package for your situation:
- adult (age 18 or older)
- parent (or guardian) applying for a child (under age 18)
- minor (under age 18) without a Canadian parent applying alone
- adult (age 18 or older) who served with the Canadian Armed Forces
- adoption by a Canadian citizen
- stateless person born to a Canadian parent
Make sure you use a version of the application form dated October 2017 or later. You can find the version date on the bottom left corner of the form. For example, “CIT 0002 (01-2019)” means the version date is January 2019. The date you sign or mail your form does not change the version date.
If you submit your application on an outdated form (older than October 2017), we’ll return it to you and ask you to resubmit your application using the newest version of the form.
If you submitted your application on an acceptable form (October 2017 or later) but we returned it as incomplete, get the missing information or documents and resubmit it using the same form. You don’t need to use the newest version of the form to resubmit your application.
Pay the application fees
Your fees depend on whether you’re an adult (age 18 and over) or minor (under age 18). Your fees may include:
- the processing fee
- the right of citizenship fee
If you’re submitting more than one application at the same time, you can pay all the fees together.
You have to pay your fees online. Only pay your fees once you’re ready to submit your application. Make sure to include the fee receipt with your application.
Find out which fees you need to pay.
Submit your application
You must be eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship the day before you sign the application form or earlier.
Send your completed application form, along with all the documents on the checklist, by mail or courier.
Sending more than one application
If you’re applying for more than one person and want us to process your applications at the same time, put all the forms and documents in the same envelope. If there are issues with one of the applications, we may continue to process the rest. If you send the applications in different envelopes, we’ll process them one at a time.
Address for regular mail
Case Processing Centre—Sydney
Citizenship Grants
P.O. Box 7000
Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6V6
Canada
Address for courier mail
Case Processing Centre—Sydney
Citizenship Grants
47–49 Dorchester Street
Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 5Z2
Apply for citizenship urgently
Processing times show how long it takes us to process applications for citizenship. We can process applications faster in special cases.
When and how to apply for citizenship urgently.
After you apply
On this page
Processing time?
12 months
Processing time is the average for how long it takes from when an application is received to when we make a decision. Learn more about processing times.
Processing your application
When we receive your application for citizenship, we review your application to make sure you:
- answered all the questions on the form
- sent all the required documents
- paid the fees
If you did, we send you an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR). That means your application is ready to be processed. Your unique client identifier (UCI) is in the AOR letter.
If your application is missing information, documents or the fee receipt, we won’t accept your application and send it back to you. Once you get the missing information, you can resubmit your application.
Leaving Canada after you submit your application
You can leave Canada after we receive your application as long as you:
- keep your permanent resident (PR) status
- can receive any letter mail, parcels and emails we send you after you submit your application
- can reply to our letters and emails within the specified time, usually within 30 days
- are available in person in Canada to attend your citizenship test (if you’re between 18 and 54 years of age), interview, and ceremony
Let us know if you plan to leave Canada for more than two weeks in a row.
How to submit your fingerprints if needed
If we ask you to submit your fingerprints for citizenship, you’re responsible for paying all fees to have your fingerprints taken.
Your fingerprints must be taken electronically. You can arrange to have them taken through
- your local police service
- the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
- an RCMP-accredited fingerprint company
To find an RCMP-accredited fingerprint company, search online: RCMP accredited fingerprinting company [city name]. Make sure the fingerprinting company can provide you with a copy of their RCMP Letter of Accreditation.
Learn more about what services accredited fingerprint companies offer.
Check your application status
You can check your application status online to find out where we are with your application.
Some applications take longer to process than the time shown on our site. For example, if your case is not routine, we may contact you to get more information or ask you to send us other documents.
When to contact us
While we process your application, contact us if any information on your application changes or if you:
- change your address
- plan to leave Canada for more than two weeks in a row
- can’t check your application status online and the normal processing time for your application has passed
- are charged with a crime
Due to privacy laws, we can’t give information about your application to anyone but you unless you consent in writing. For example, if you have difficulty communicating in English or French, you need to consent for a family member to contact us about your application.
Citizenship test, interview, and hearing
If you’re eligible and were between 18 and 54 years of age when you signed your application, you’ll be invited to take the citizenship test. We may invite you to take the citizenship test within weeks after we send you the acknowledgement of receipt. The test usually takes place 4 weeks after we send the notice.
After the test, you go to an interview with a citizenship official. The interview is usually on the same day as the test.
Adults who don’t need to take the test (over 54 years of age) will still be invited to an interview. Generally, minors (under 18) who apply at the same time as their parents don’t need to go to an interview. Minors between 14 and 17 years of age will be invited to an interview if they’re applying alone.
If you don’t pass the test the first time, you’ll take the test a second time. The second test usually takes place 4 to 8 weeks after the first test, but it may be longer.
If you don’t pass the test the second time, we’ll schedule a hearing for you with a citizenship official. The hearing is an oral test.
Decision
A citizenship official makes a decision about your application after the test, interview, and hearing if you had one. When they make a decision, we change the status of your application to “Decision made”. This means we either approved or refused your application.
If we approved your application, you meet the requirements to move on to the final step to become a Canadian citizen: taking the Oath of Citizenship. We’ll send you an invitation to take the oath at a citizenship ceremony. We’ll let you know by email if you gave us your email address or mail you a letter if we don’t have your email address. You must continue to meet all of the requirements for citizenship until you take the oath. We can change the decision if your situation changes and you no longer meet the requirements.
If we refused your application for citizenship, you don’t meet the requirements for citizenship. We’ll send you a letter by registered mail explaining why.
Oath of Citizenship
Taking the Oath of Citizenship at a citizenship ceremony is the final step to become a Canadian citizen. The ceremony usually takes place within three months after we make a decision on your application. We’ll send you the invitation approximately 4 weeks before the ceremony.
Staying eligible until you take the Oath
To take the Oath of Citizenship, you must meet all eligibility requirements for citizenship until you take the oath. We can change the decision if your situation changes and you no longer meet the requirements. For example, if you:
- lose your permanent resident (PR) status
- have been asked by Canadian officials to leave Canada (removal order)
Date modified: 2019-04-16 by IRCC Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
