- a crown servant or
- a family member of the crown servant (child, spouse or common-law partner).
- If you want your representative’s help with the online application, you must complete and submit the application yourself.
We’re working so everyone can apply online in the future.
If you have a representative
- is someone you choose to help you complete your application
- can be paid (authorized) (opens in a new tab) or unpaid
- may be a family member, friend, lawyer or consultant
- communicates and does business with us for you after you submit the application
If you apply online with the help of a representative, you must
- create your own account to apply online with your email address
- not share your account or password with anyone (including your representative)
- sign, date and submit your online application
Your representative may
- help you to answer the questions in the online application
- communicate with us for you after you submit your application
- provide other assistance, information and advice
If you want your representative to complete and submit your application for you, apply on paper (opens in a new tab) . We’re working so a representative can apply online for an applicant in the future.
You don’t need to use a representative
It’s your choice. Using one will not
- draw special attention to your application
- guarantee the approval of your application
Apply on paper
As of January 4, 2023, you can choose an electronic citizenship certificate (e-certificate) or a paper certificate for most citizenship applications.
How to choose the certificate type
In your application form
- choose the certificate type you want
- provide an email address if you want an e-certificate
If your application is successful, the certificate proves that you’re a Canadian citizen.
E-certificate (becoming a Canadian citizen)
If you apply on paper to become a Canadian citizen on or after January 4, 2023, the e-certificate option is available for these applications:
- adult (18 or older)
- a current or former Canadian Armed Forces member applying under the fast-track process
- minor (under 18) who has a Canadian parent (or a parent who’s applying for citizenship at the same time)
- minor applying alone without a Canadian parent
The e-certificate is not yet available for a stateless person born to a Canadian parent.
Pilot of e-certificate for adopted persons born outside Canada
We’re still testing the e-certificate with some applicants who already submitted an application 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 (if we approve your application).
You’ll only receive an e-certificate if
- you choose to participate in the pilot
- you meet the application requirements
- 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.
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 minor (under age 18)
- Minor without a Canadian parent applying alone
- Adult who served with the Canadian Armed Forces
- Adoption by a Canadian citizen
- Stateless person born to a Canadian parent
Pay the application fees
Your fees depend on whether you’re an adult (age 18 and over) or a minor (under age 18). Your fees may include
- the processing fee
- the right of citizenship fee
You have to pay your fees online.
- Only pay your fees once you’re ready to submit your application.
- Include the receipt with your application.
- If you’re submitting more than 1 application at the same time, you can pay all the fees together (1 receipt) or separately (multiple receipts).
Submit your application
You must be eligible for Canadian citizenship the day before you sign the application form.
- you sign the application form
- you date the form the day you sign it (don’t use a date in the past or future)
- that the date of signature on the application form is the same as the “Application date” in the physical presence calculation for these applications:
- Adult (age 18 or older).
- Minor (under 18) without a Canadian parent applying alone.
- We’ll return your application to you if we receive it more than 90 days after the date on the form.
If you’re submitting more than 1 application
Make sure that everyone’s applications are complete. We’ll return all submitted applications to you if at least 1 of them is incomplete.
If you want us to process everyone’s applications together, put all applications and receipts in the same envelope. Otherwise, we’ll process them separately.
Send your completed application form and all documents in the application package by mail or courier:
Regular mail Courier Case Processing Centre - Sydney
Citizenship Grants
P.O. Box 7000
Sydney, NS B1P 6V6IRCC Digitization Centre - Citizenship
3050 Wilson Ave
New Waterford, NS B1H 5V8Track your application
We recommend that you use a postal or courier service with a tracking number to ensure you get proof that your application was delivered to the IRCC office.
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.
