At Kingwell Immigration Law, we regularly receive inquiries about Canadian citizenship cards. However, Canadian citizenship cards have not been issued since February 2012.
A citizenship certificate is now the official document that proves your Canadian citizenship. You can use it to access services and benefits, such as applying for a passport or collecting a pension.
If you need proof of Canadian citizenship today, you must apply for a citizenship certificate instead through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Many people are still unaware of this change and contact us asking about citizenship cards, not realizing that citizenship certificates replaced them with a more secure form of proof.
Our immigration lawyer in Toronto can guide you through the application process and help ensure you receive the proper documentation.
Applying for citizenship documentation can be overwhelming, especially when government websites contain complex and confusing information. Our experienced immigration lawyers provide personalized guidance through every step of your citizenship certificate application, ensuring you meet all requirements and avoid common mistakes.
Our team assists with urgent applications when you need your citizenship proof quickly for employment, travel, or other time-sensitive matters. We regularly handle complex cases and have successfully represented clients in Federal Court appeals when IRCC decisions require challenge.
Need help with your citizenship certificate application? Contact our experienced team at 416.988.8853 or visit our contact page for personalized guidance.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada discontinued citizenship cards in February 2012 due to security concerns. The old plastic cards lacked modern security features and were easily counterfeited, creating risks for Canadian citizens and government institutions.
The government replaced these cards with citizenship certificates, which include advanced security features like barcodes and tamper-proof materials. These certificates provide better protection against fraud while serving as official proof of Canadian citizenship for passport applications, employment verification, and accessing government services.
If you still have an old citizenship card, it remains valid proof of citizenship. However, if it’s lost, stolen, or damaged, you cannot get another card. You must apply for a citizenship certificate instead through IRCC’s current process.
| Feature | Citizenship Card (Discontinued 2012) | Citizenship Certificate (Current) |
| Format | Plastic wallet-sized card | 8.5″ x 11″ paper document |
| Security Features | Basic lamination | Barcode, advanced printing, tamper-proof |
| Photo | Yes | No |
| Still Valid | Yes, if in good condition | Yes |
| Available for New Applications | No | Yes |
| Processing Time | N/A | 5 months+ |
You need a citizenship certificate as proof of Canadian citizenship for several important purposes. These documents are essential when applying for a Canadian passport, starting employment that requires citizenship verification, or accessing certain government services and benefits.
✔️ Understanding the benefits of Canadian citizenship can help you appreciate why this documentation is so important.
✔️ Understanding the difference between a Canadian citizen vs permanent resident is important, because only citizens can apply for a citizenship certificate as proof of status, while permanent residents must instead use their PR card to prove their status in Canada.
Our legal team can help you determine whether you need a citizenship certificate based on your specific circumstances and guide you through the appropriate application process.
To qualify for a citizenship certificate, you must already be a Canadian citizen. This includes people born in Canada, naturalized citizens, or those who inherited citizenship through Canadian parents born before the first-generation limit took effect in 2009.
Citizens by descent face specific eligibility requirements under current law. Generally, if your parent was born outside Canada to a Canadian parent, you may not automatically qualify for citizenship due to the first-generation limit in the Citizenship Act.
While recent court challenges have questioned this restriction, it remains in force. In limited cases, IRCC may consider discretionary grants of citizenship for individuals affected by these rules.
Unsure about your eligibility for Canadian citizenship? Our immigration lawyers can assess your case and determine your options. Call 416.988.8853 today.
You can apply for your citizenship certificate through two methods: online or paper application. The online system works best for straightforward cases and offers faster processing times in many situations.
Online applications are available if you qualify under certain conditions — for example, if you were born on or after February 15, 1977, or if you became a naturalized citizen on or after April 17, 2009 — and if your parents’ citizenship status and birth date also meet specified criteria.
You’ll need to create an account on the IRCC website, and once you start the application, you have 60 days to finish submitting it.
If you don’t meet the online eligibility, or if your case is more complex — such as involving minors, uncertain parental/grandparental citizenship, or special circumstances — you’ll use the paper application process.
With paper applications, you’ll download the forms, gather supporting documents (including translations if needed), pay the fee, and mail everything as instructed (generally to the Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia).
Your application requires specific supporting documents depending on your citizenship situation. All applicants need two pieces of current Canadian or American identification, with at least one containing a photo.
✔️ Our legal team helps clients gather and prepare the correct documentation to avoid delays and rejections.
Standard processing times for citizenship certificates currently range from 5 upwards, depending on the complexity of your case and IRCC workload. Processing times can also vary significantly based on seasonal applications and the completeness of your documentation.
Urgent processing may be available in specific circumstances, such as needing to renew your passport for immediate travel or starting employment that requires citizenship proof by a certain date. You must provide documentation supporting your urgent request, including travel bookings or employment letters.
IRCC has sole discretion over urgent processing requests. Even with supporting documentation, there’s no guarantee your application will be expedited.
✔️ Our firm regularly handles urgent applications, and we can help you compile the strongest possible urgent processing request with appropriate supporting documentation.
Many applications face delays due to incomplete documentation or unclear supporting evidence. The most common issues include submitting expired identification, unclear photocopies, or missing signatures on required forms and statutory declarations.
✔️ Our experienced team can identify potential issues before submission and help you prepare complete applications that meet all IRCC requirements the first time.
Facing application challenges? Our experienced team can identify potential issues before submission. Contact us for professional assistance.
The current fee for a citizenship certificate is $75 CAD for adults and children. This fee applies whether you’re applying for your first certificate or replacing a lost, stolen, or damaged document through IRCC’s process.
Additional costs may include courier services for secure document delivery, professional photography for applications requiring photos, and translation services for foreign documents. These costs vary depending on your specific circumstances and location.
Payment methods depend on where you submit your application. Online applications accept credit cards through IRCC’s secure portal, while paper applications may require different payment methods, including certified cheques or money orders.
IRCC now offers electronic certificates (e-certificates) for some applicants as an alternative to paper documents. These digital certificates contain the same information and legal validity as paper versions for all official purposes.
✔️ Our team can help you determine which format best suits your needs and ensure your application requests the appropriate certificate type.
Application refusals usually occur when IRCC cannot verify your Canadian citizenship or confirm your identity based on the documents provided. Common reasons include missing or insufficient proof that a parent was a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth, unclear or incomplete identity documents, or discrepancies in supporting records.
Your options after refusal depend on the reason. In straightforward cases, you may be able to correct errors and resubmit with stronger documentation.
If IRCC misapplied the law or failed to consider evidence properly, the decision can only be challenged through a judicial review in the Federal Court. Legal representation is strongly recommended for that process.
📌 Our firm can carefully review the refusal letter, identify whether IRCC made a procedural or substantive mistake, and advise whether to pursue a challenge in court or strengthen a new application with the proper evidence.
Once you receive your citizenship certificate, proper storage and handling are essential for maintaining its validity. Never laminate the document, as this will render it invalid under IRCC policy. Store it in a secure location where it won’t be damaged, lost, or stolen.
Document security includes making certified copies for routine use while keeping the original in safe storage. Consider using a safety deposit box or home safe for your original certificate to prevent loss or damage.
⚖️ Remember that while citizenship provides significant protections, understanding can Canadian citizenship be revoked helps you maintain proper compliance with Canadian law.
Replacement procedures apply if your certificate is lost, stolen, or damaged after you receive it. You’ll need to submit a new application with appropriate fees and supporting documentation, following the same process as initial applications.
Until the replacement arrives, you may need to rely on other accepted proof if you have it — such as a valid Canadian passport, an old citizenship card, or other government-issued documents that IRCC or Service Canada accepts.
⚠️ If you have no alternate proof, some processes (like getting a new passport) may be delayed until the replacement certificate is issued.
Our legal team provides comprehensive advice on protecting your citizenship documents and can guide you through the replacement process if necessary.
Need guidance on protecting your citizenship documents or have questions about the application process? Our legal team provides comprehensive advice. Contact us for consultation.
Navigating citizenship certificate applications requires attention to detail and knowledge of current IRCC policies and procedures. Our experienced immigration lawyers provide the guidance you need to obtain your citizenship proof efficiently and avoid costly delays.
We handle everything from initial eligibility assessments through application submission and follow-up with IRCC. Our team stays current with policy changes and processing developments that could affect your application timeline and success, drawing from over 20 years of experience in Canadian immigration law.
Ready to start your citizenship certificate application with professional guidance? Contact Kingwell Immigration Law at 416.988.8853 or book your consultation today.
IRCC may approve urgent processing of a citizenship certificate if you can prove a compelling need, such as a medical emergency, urgent travel, or immediate employment or benefits requiring proof of citizenship. If accepted, urgent cases are often processed much faster than the standard ~5-month timeline, sometimes within a few weeks. However, IRCC reviews each request individually, and urgent approval is never guaranteed.
IRCC returns incomplete applications with a detailed letter explaining exactly which documents or information are missing from your submission. You have 180 days to provide the required materials and resubmit; otherwise, your application becomes abandoned, and fees are not refunded.
You cannot use a pending citizenship certificate application as travel documentation for international trips. If urgent travel is necessary, you must use your current valid passport or apply for emergency travel documents through Canadian consulates abroad for your specific situation.
IRCC and government agencies require original citizenship cards or certified copies because photocopies cannot verify security features and authenticity. Original cards issued before 2012 remain valid indefinitely, but damaged or illegible cards must be replaced with new citizenship certificates through the standard application process.
When your Canadian parent does not have citizenship documentation, you may need to rely on historical records to prove their status. This can include birth or naturalization records from provincial vital statistics offices, archived immigration or naturalization records through Library and Archives Canada, or other government registries.
These sources, some of which date back to 1867, can help establish a parent’s Canadian citizenship. Our legal team can assist in identifying the right records and securing the necessary documentation to support your application.
