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How to Apply for Canadian Citizenship by Descent

This page is informational, not legal advice. It describes the Canadian citizenship by descent application process in general terms based on publicly available government sources. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed Canadian immigration attorney. Canadian law can change — the information below reflects Bill C-3 as it came into force on December 15, 2025 and may not reflect subsequent amendments.

Bill C-3 (An Act to amend the Citizenship Act) came into force on December 15, 2025, restoring Canadian citizenship by descent to people born outside Canada to a Canadian parent — regardless of how many generations ago the Canadian ancestor lived, provided an unbroken chain of birth to a Canadian citizen exists. Before Bill C-3, only the first generation born abroad could claim citizenship by descent.

The application process uses the existing proof-of-citizenship pathway through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Paper applications are generally recommended for multi-generational claims, as the online portal may not accommodate complex lineage documentation.

Step-by-Step Process

These steps reflect the IRCC proof-of-citizenship application process as of January 2026. Always verify current requirements on the official IRCC website.

  1. 1

    Determine your eligibility

    Verify that you may qualify for Canadian citizenship by descent under Bill C-3. You need an unbroken chain of birth to a Canadian citizen — each person in the chain must have been born to a parent who was a Canadian citizen at the time of their birth. Take the free eligibility check to walk through your specific situation.

  2. 2

    Gather supporting documents

    Collect long-form birth certificates for every person in the chain from you back to your anchor ancestor (the person born in Canada or who became a Canadian citizen). You will also need proof of your anchor ancestor's Canadian citizenship — typically a Canadian birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or evidence of residence in Canada before January 1, 1947 (when the first Canadian Citizenship Act took effect). Marriage certificates are especially important for connecting names across generations — if a parent's name on their birth certificate doesn't match their name on their child's birth certificate (e.g., maiden vs. married name), the marriage certificate documents the change. If you have multiple Canadian ancestors, you only need to document one line of descent — choose the one with the best available records.

  3. 3

    Complete form CIT 0001 (Application for Canadian Citizenship Certificate)

    Download the current version of CIT 0001 from the IRCC website. Paper submission is recommended for multi-generational claims — the form was updated in January 2026 to accommodate Bill C-3 applications. Fill in your personal details and those of your Canadian parent (or ancestor, for multi-generational claims).

  4. 4

    Complete form CIT 0014 (Document Checklist)

    CIT 0014 is the official IRCC document checklist. It itemizes every document you must include with your application. Check off each item as you assemble your package — missing documents will result in your application being returned.

  5. 5

    Get citizenship photos

    Canadian citizenship photos must be 50mm x 70mm — these are not the same as Canadian passport photos. Most photo studios that handle passport photos can produce citizenship photos if you specify the dimensions. Two identical photos are required.

  6. 6

    Pay the $75 CAD processing fee

    The fee is paid online through the IRCC payment portal. Print the receipt and include it with your mailed application. The fee is per applicant — if you are applying for multiple family members, each person needs their own payment.

  7. 7

    Mail your application

    Send your completed application package to the Case Processing Centre. Use the appropriate address:

    Regular mail (Canada Post)

    Case Processing Centre
    P.O. Box 10000
    Sydney, Nova Scotia
    B1P 7C1

    Courier (FedEx, UPS, etc.)

    Case Processing Centre
    49 Dorchester Street
    Sydney, Nova Scotia
    B1P 5Z2

Required Documents Overview

Based on IRCC requirements for proof-of-citizenship applications. Always verify the current CIT 0014 checklist for the most up-to-date list.

Applicant

  • Long-form birth certificate
  • Two pieces of ID (one must include a photo)
  • Two citizenship photos (50mm x 70mm)
  • Completed CIT 0001 form
  • Completed CIT 0014 document checklist
  • Fee payment receipt ($75 CAD)

Each Ancestor in the Chain

  • Long-form birth certificate
  • Marriage certificate (if applicable — to connect name changes across generations)
  • Death certificate (if deceased)
  • Divorce decree (if applicable)

Anchor Ancestor (Canadian Citizen)

  • Proof of Canadian citizenship — birth certificate issued by a Canadian province/territory, naturalization certificate, or evidence of residence in Canada before January 1, 1947
  • Marriage certificate (if applicable)
  • Death certificate (if deceased)

Translations

Any document not in English or French must include a certified translation. The translation must be accompanied by an affidavit from the translator confirming its accuracy.

Important: Documents Are Not Returned

IRCC does not return supporting documents. Send colour photocopies of all supporting documents — not originals. The exceptions are the CIT 0001 form itself and citizenship photos, which must be originals.

Processing Times

As of early 2026, IRCC estimates approximately 11 months for proof-of-citizenship applications. Processing times may increase as applications submitted under Bill C-3 enter the queue — demand is expected to be significant, particularly from multi-generational applicants who were previously ineligible.

Check current processing times on the IRCC processing times page.

For Births After December 15, 2025

Bill C-3 introduced a substantial connection requirement for persons born outside Canada after December 15, 2025 who are beyond the first generation born abroad. To transmit citizenship to their own children born outside Canada, these individuals must accumulate at least 1,095 days(approximately 3 years) of physical presence in Canada before the child's birth.

This requirement is documented on form CIT 0555 (Declaration of Physical Presence). An exemption exists for Crown Servants — Canadian government employees stationed abroad and their family members may be exempt from the physical presence requirement during their period of service.

This provision applies only to the transmission of citizenship to future children — it does not affect the eligibility of persons born before December 15, 2025.

Practical Tips

No generational limit

Since Bill C-3, there is no known generational limit on citizenship by descent. Applications spanning many generations back are being processed. If you were born before December 15, 2025 and have a Canadian ancestor, you may be a Canadian citizen regardless of how far back the connection is — provided you can document the chain.

Paper applications for 2nd+ generation

If you are the second generation or further born abroad (your grandparent or further back was the Canadian), you will generally need to submit a paper application. The online portal may not accommodate multi-generational documentation. The CIT 0001 form has sections for parents and grandparents — for great-grandparents and beyond, include the information on a separate sheet of paper with your supporting documentation.

Your ancestor doesn't need to apply first

Your parent or grandparent does not need to apply for their own citizenship certificate before you apply for yours. They never need to apply at all. You can apply independently, even if the Canadian ancestor in your chain has passed away.

Apostilles are not required

Unlike some other countries' citizenship by descent processes, IRCC does not require apostilled documents for Canadian citizenship certificate applications.

After you apply

After IRCC receives your application, they will send an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR). Processing times vary. You are applying for a citizenship certificate, not citizenship itself — if you qualify, you are already a Canadian citizen by operation of law. The certificate is proof of that status.

Build your document checklist

The Next Passport generates a personalized document checklist based on your specific lineage chain and tracks the status of each item. The eligibility check takes about 2 minutes and does not require an account.

Build your document checklist →

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Not legal advice. This page describes the Canadian citizenship by descent application process in general terms based on publicly available government sources. Canadian law can change — for guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed Canadian immigration attorney.