Guide: Application for Canadian Citizenship: Adults - Subsection 5(1) CIT 0002
Make sure you use a version of the application form dated October 2020 or later. You can find the version date on the bottom left corner of the form. For example, “CIT 0002 (10-2020)” means the version date is October 2020. The date you sign or mail your form does not change the version date.
If you submit your application on a form with a version date older than October 2017, we’ll return it to you and ask you to resubmit your application using the newest version of the form.
Canada is a country that embodies multiculturalism and diversity and encourages newcomers to achieve their full potential by supporting their integration and active participation in social, cultural, economic and political affairs. We thank you for the commitment you are showing to Canada by applying to become a Canadian citizen!
This form and guide is for Permanent Residents, 18 years of age or older who wish to apply to become Canadian citizens.
This is not a legal document. The explanations and definitions are not legal definitions. In case of a discrepancy between the language in this document and the relevant legislation or regulations, the legal text in the legislation and regulations prevails.
For legal information, see the:
This information will help you complete the forms and guide you through the application process.
Accessing help
If you need help, you may find the answer to your questions by visiting the Help Centre.
To download and open a PDF form, you need to have Adobe reader 10 or higher installed. Mobile devices such as iPads, tablets and mobile phones can’t be used for IRCC forms.
If you are having difficulties downloading the form, visit How do I download and open a PDF form for IRCC’s website? in the Help Centre
Steps to Canadian Citizenship
- Step 1 – Make sure you're eligible
- Step 2 – Calculate how long you’ve been in Canada
- Step 3 – Gather your documents
- Step 4 – Complete your application form
- Step 5 – Pay the fees
- Step 6 – Submit your application
- What happens next
- Appendix A – Name change
- Appendix B – Date of birth correction
- Appendix C – Change of gender designation
- Appendix D – Waiver request(s) and/or guardianship documents
- Need help?
Step 1 – Make sure you're eligible
To be eligible for Canadian citizenship, you:
- must be a permanent resident (landed immigrant) of Canada
- must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the 5 years immediately before you apply
- may need to file personal income taxes for at least 3 years within the 5-year period
- must demonstrate adequate knowledge of English or French (if you are between 18 and 54 years old when you apply)
- must demonstrate you have knowledge of Canada and of the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship (if you are between 18 and 54 years old when you apply—this is assessed after you apply)
- can’t have any unfulfilled conditions related to their permanent resident status
- can’t be under a removal order
- can’t be inadmissible or prohibited on criminal or security grounds
Use this tool to check if you’re eligible to apply for Citizenship.
Note: If you are a Registered Indian applying for Canadian citizenship, please review Processing a grant or resumption of citizenship for registered Indians.
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Important information
The five (5) year eligibility period is only the five (5) years before the date you sign your application. This is the time period you will use in the Physical Presence Calculator.
Possible loss of other citizenship
You could lose your present nationality or citizenship if you become a Canadian citizen. If you have any questions about this, please contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country of your present nationality before applying for Canadian citizenship.
Step 2 – Calculate how long you’ve been in Canada
To calculate how long you’ve been in Canada (your physical presence)
- use the online calculator, and
- print a copy of your results and include it with your application
If you can’t use the online calculator, use our form: How to Calculate Physical Presence (CIT 0407) (opens in new tab) .
Double-check your calculations. Errors can delay the processing of your application.
You don’t have to sign or date your physical presence calculation (your printout of the Online Physical Presence Calculator or form CIT 0407).
You must recalculate your physical presence (opens in a new tab) if we return the application because
- the application form and the calculator printout have different application dates (they must be the same)
- your calculation is incorrect
- double-check your calculation
- include all the times you spent outside Canada in 3 out of the last 5 years
- you didn’t sign or date your application form
- you submitted an outdated application form
- use the newest version of the form: Application for Canadian Citizenship - Adults (CIT 0002) (opens in new tab)
- it’s dated either
- more than 90 days before we receive it, or
- into the future (post-dated)
Make sure the application form and the calculator printout have the same application date.
For help, see questions about physical presence calculations.
Step 3 – Gather your documents
Submit the following documents with your application:
- The original printout of your Online Physical Presence Calculation or form CIT 0407 (opens in new tab)
- Colour photocopy of all pages (valid or expired) of your passport(s) or travel document(s) during your (5) year eligibility period, including the biographical page which includes: name, photo, date and place of birth, passport/travel document number, issue date and expiration date.
- If you do not have these documents or there is missing time between the validity dates of the travel documents, provide an explanation in question 14 on the application form.
-
Photocopies of two (2) pieces of personal identification.
Examples of identification you can use include:
- a copy of the biographical page of your passport/travel document (as requested above and also can be one (1) of your pieces of personal identification)
- permanent resident card (PR card)
- A PR card may only be used as personal identification if your second piece of personal identification was issued by the Canadian government (Canadian federal, provincial or territorial government-issued documents that can be used to establish identity).
- driver’s licence
- health insurance card
- senior citizen identification card
- age of majority card
- foreign identity documents, such as a passport or government issued identification documents
Note: If there is information on both sides of the identification document, photocopy both sides.
- If you are 18 to 54 years old:
-
Photocopies of your proof of English or French language ability.
Examples of the types of language evidence that can be submitted include:
- results of a third-party language test
- diploma, certificate or transcripts from a secondary or post-secondary education program in Canada or abroad, where the language of study was English or French
- proof that you have reached the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 or higher through a government-funded language training programs
For more information visit “What documents can I use to prove that I meet the citizenship language requirement?”
or
- If you are 18-54 years of age and unable to demonstrate that you have the necessary English or French language ability due to compassionate grounds, submit supporting evidence with your application.
- Provide a completed Waiver Request Form (CIT 0116) (opens in new tab) .
- If you are requesting a waiver due to a medical condition, we recommend you also provide a Medical Opinion Form for Citizenship Waivers (CIT 0547) (opens in new tab) , filled out by a medical professional licensed to practice in Canada.
- You should also provide any additional documentation that we should consider with your waiver request.
Compassionate grounds include medical and non-medical factors. Examples include (but are not limited to) evidence of
- a severe medical condition that has lasted (or is expected to last) for at least 1 year, including
- serious illness
- physical or developmental disability
- mental impairment
- trauma due to
- war
- torture
- living in a refugee camp
- other similar circumstances
- low levels of education or literacy in the first language (mother tongue)
- other circumstances that may justify a waiver.
Requesting a waiver does not guarantee it will be approved. Waiver requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
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- Two (2) identical citizenship photos
- Fee Receipt - The application fee of $630.00 per adult paid online
- The Document Checklist (CIT 0007) (opens in new tab)
Step 4 – Complete the application form
-
Application for Canadian Citizenship - Adults (CIT 0002)
Get the instructions (opens in a new tab)
Citizenship photos
- include two (2) identical citizenship photos
- print the Citizenship Photo Specifications page and take it to a photographer to make sure you get the correct size photo
- don't staple, glue or otherwise attach the photo directly to the application
Your application will be returned if you do not include two (2) photos that meet the citizenship photo specifications.
Translation of documents
You must include the following along with any document that is not in English or French:
- the English or French translation; and
- an affidavit from the person who completed the translation (if they are not a certified translator).
Translations may be done by:
- a person who is fluent in both languages (English or French, and the unofficial language); or
- a Canadian certified translator (a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial organization of translators and interpreters in Canada).
If the translation isn’t done by a Canadian certified translator, the person who completed the translation must provide an affidavit swearing to their language proficiency and the accuracy of the translation.
The affidavit must be sworn in the presence of:
In Canada:
Authority to certify varies by province and territory. Consult your local provincial or territorial authorities.
Outside of Canada:
- a notary public
Authority to administer oaths varies by country. Consult your local authorities.
Important information: Translations must not be done by the applicants themselves nor by members of the applicant’s family. This includes a parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew and first cousin.
Note: An affidavit is a document on which the translator has sworn, in the presence of a person authorized to administer oaths in the country where the translator is living, that the contents of their translation are a true translation and representation of the contents of the original document. Translators who are certified in Canada don’t need to supply an affidavit.
Certified true copies
To have a photocopy of a document certified, an authorized person must compare the original document to the photocopy and must print all of the following on the photocopy:
- the name and signature of the authorized person;
- their official position or title;
- the name of the original document;
- the date they certified the document; and
- the phrase “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document”.
Who can certify copies?
Only authorized people can certify copies.
Important information: Certifying of copies must not be done by the applicants themselves nor by an applicant’s parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or first cousin.
People authorized to certify copies include the following:
In Canada:
Authority to certify varies by province and territory. Check with your local provincial or territorial authorities to learn who can certify documents.
Outside Canada:
- a notary public.
Authority to certify international documents varies by country. Check with your local authorities to learn who can certify documents in your country.
Step 5 – Pay the fees
You must pay your fees online (opens in a new tab) . If you have forgotten your password for the online payment system, you can reset it.
The fee is $630 for each applicant 18 years of age and older applying for Canadian citizenship.
Calculating your fees
If more than one member of your family is applying for Canadian citizenship pay the fees all together.
Use this table to calculate the total amount of fees to be paid. After you pay, print the receipt and include it with your application.
Application | $CAN |
---|---|
Adult (18 and over) Processing fee ($530) and right of citizenship fee ($100) |
$630 |
Minor (under 18) Processing fee ($100) |
$100 |
Explanation of fees and refund
This section describes the fees that are required and if they are refundable. All payment must be made in Canadian funds.
Processing fee
Amount: $530 for each applicant 18 years of age and older applying under subsection 5(1) and $100 for each child applying under subsection 5(2).
You can’t get a refund of your processing fee once we start processing your application, even if you are refused. If you choose to withdraw your application, or abandon your application, you will only be refunded the Right of Citizenship fee.
Right of citizenship fee
Amount: $100 for each applicant over 18 years of age
You will be refunded your right of citizenship fee if you don’t become a citizen.
You must pay the processing fee and the right of citizenship fee for a total of $630.
We will issue any refunds to the person on the Payer Information section of the receipt. If there is no name on the receipt, we will send the refund to the applicant.
Payment Issues
No fee included or insufficient fees
If you do not pay the full fees for your application(s) we will return your application(s). We will only start processing your application after you return it with the correct fees.
For immigration applications, see section 10 of the IRPR and for citizenship applications, see section 13 of the Citizenship Act for more information.
Overpayment
If you pay more than the fees needed for your application(s) we will start processing your application, and send you a refund as soon as possible.
Note: You don’t have to ask for a refund. It will be done automatically.
Note: If you’re eligible for a refund, we will issue the refund to the person indicated on the Payer Information section of the receipt (if a receipt is attached to a paper application or uploaded as part of an online application). If you paid directly within an online application (no receipt attached), or if there is no name indicated on the receipt, we will send the refund to the applicant.
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Only online payments are accepted in Canada. If any other forms of payment are received, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will return your application.
How to pay the fees for your application
To pay your fees for your application you’ll need:
- a valid e-mail address;
- access to a printer (you’ll need to print the receipt), and
- a credit card, Debit MasterCard® or Visa® Debit card.
Visit the link below and follow these instructions to pay:
- Go to Online Payment.
- Follow the online instructions.
- At the end, click on the button to print the IRCC official receipt with barcode. Print two copies.
- Attach a copy of this receipt to your completed application.
- Keep the second copy of the receipt for your records.
Do not exit without printing the receipt! The printed receipt is your proof of payment!
Note: The only acceptable form of payment is online payment. If you send any other form of payment, IRCC will return your application.
Step 6 – Submit your application
Send your completed application to one of the following addresses:
Regular Mail
Case Processing Centre-Sydney
P.O. Box 7000
SYDNEY, NS B1P 6V6
Courier
IRCC Digitization Centre - Citizenship
3050 Wilson Ave
New Waterford, NS B1H 5V8
Track your application
If you’re submitting a paper application, we recommend you use a postal or courier service with tracking so you have proof your application was delivered.
If you are sending more than one application
If you are sending more than one application (for example, applications for family members, including siblings), you may send one receipt to cover all applications. Mail the receipt (if applicable) and all applications together in one envelope so that they will be processed together.
Note: If you are sending more than one application , and one of the applications is incomplete, all the applications will be returned to you.
What happens next
Processing your application
The list below presents the phases of the Citizenship process of most applications. In some cases, processing may take longer.
Application review and file creation
The Case Processing Centre in Sydney makes sure your application
- meets the minimum processing requirements;
- includes all the required documents;
- has the right fee.
If your application is complete, processing starts.
You will receive:
- acknowledgement of receipt;
- the citizenship study guide.
Note: The study guide is available in alternate formats, including audio.
Your application will be returned if:
- it doesn’t meet the minimum processing requirements;
- doesn’t include the correct fee payment; and/or
- isn’t complete.
If returned, we send you a letter that explains why your application is incomplete and what the next steps are.
The letter will tell you:
- which forms, documents or fees are missing
- if you have to
- refill the application form
- if so, use the newest version of the form: Application for Canadian Citizenship - Adults (CIT 0002) (opens in new tab)
- sign and date the form
- recalculate your physical presence/time you’ve lived in Canada (opens in a new tab)
- if so, include the new calculator printout when you resubmit the application
- submit a new fee receipt
- if the letter doesn’t ask for a new receipt, include the same receipt when you resubmit the application
- resubmit any documents
- refill the application form
Be sure to check the Document Checklist (CIT 0007) (opens in new tab) . Once you get the information we ask for in the letter, resubmit your complete application.
Prepare for your test
During the processing period, if you are between the ages of 18 and 54, you should:
- prepare for the citizenship test and/or interview on Canada’s history, geography, government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship based on the study guide and
- continue to maintain and improve your English or French if necessary.
If you have requested a waiver of the knowledge requirement (i.e., citizenship test), you will not be invited to the test. Instead, your waiver request will be assessed. You will only be invited to the citizenship test if you knowledge waiver request is denied.
If we invite you to an interview, test, and/or hearing, your invitation will tell you what to bring.
If applicable, you will be tested on your knowledge of:
- English or French
- Canada’s history, geography, government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship (the citizenship test).
We will send you one or more of these notices:
- Notice to appear to take a citizenship test
- Notice to appear for an interview with a citizenship official
- Notice to appear for a hearing with a citizenship officer or a citizenship judge
Decision
- The CPC sends your application to the IRCC office nearest to your home for further processing.
- The IRCC office completes the steps necessary for a decision to be made on your application.
- You may be asked to come to the IRCC office for a review of the original documents you submitted in support of your application, as well as your current passport and travel document. If applicable, you will be evaluated on your knowledge of English or French and on your knowledge of Canada’s history, geography, government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Correspondence you may receive:
- Notification to appear to take a citizenship test; and/or
- Notification to appear for an interview with a citizenship official; and/or
- Notification to appear for a hearing with a citizenship official.
Take the oath
If you meet all the requirements for citizenship, the IRCC office notifies you of the time and place of your citizenship ceremony.
What you receive:
- Notification to appear to take the oath of citizenship
- Certificate of Canadian citizenship received at the ceremony after taking the oath of citizenship
Note: To avoid delays or closure of your application, tell us as soon as possible if you can’t attend the scheduled ceremony.
If you are unable to understand the significance of taking the oath of citizenship due to mental disability, you can request a waiver. To request an oath waiver, please provide a Medical Opinion Form for Citizenship Waivers (CIT 0547) (opens in new tab) , filled out by a medical professional licensed to practice in Canada. You should also provide any additional documentation that we should consider with your waiver request.
- Requesting a waiver does not guarantee it will be approved. Waiver requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
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For more information
Current processing times
You can check current processing times on the Application processing times webpage.
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Important information
Updating your contact information
While your application is in process, you must tell us if you change your address, e-mail address, or telephone number. Use the Change your address tool to give us your new contact information.
If you do not notify us of any change in your contact information, and we can’t reach you, your application could be abandoned or closed.
Remember, Canada Post’s Mail Forwarding Service does not forward parcels and a citizenship application package is considered a parcel.
Checking application status
You can check the status of your application online. Your status will only appear online once we receive and have accepted your application into processing.
Find out how to remove your application status information from the Internet.
Protecting your information
Your personal information:
- is only available to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) employees who need to see it in order to provide the services to you,
- may be shared, with your consent, with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the purposes of validating your tax filing information; and
- is not disclosed to anyone else except as permitted under the provisions of the Privacy Act and the Citizenship Regulations.
Note: The legal authority for IRCC to collect income tax information including filing history and the Social Insurance Number (SIN) is provided for in subsection 5(1) of the Citizenship Act, section 26.6 of the Citizenship Regulations and paragraph 2(1)(d) of the Citizenship Regulations No.2. The CRA’s legal authority to disclose income tax information including filing history upon applicant consent is provided for in paragraph 241(5)(b) of the Income Tax Act. Income tax information including filing history provided by the CRA to IRCC may be used to verify a citizenship applicant’s income tax information including filing history for the purpose of assessing their citizenship application against the tax filing requirement of subsection 5(1)(c) of the Citizenship Act. IRCC may, on occasion, send information pertaining to a citizenship application to the CRA in respect of any relevant information related to any discrepancies between the information obtained from the applicant and that provided by the CRA if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the discrepancy is a result of false representation, fraud or concealment of material circumstances made in the course of an application, as well as any personal information, including the SIN, of an applicant that the CRA is authorized to collect for the purpose of the administration of the Income Tax Act. IRCC will not use this information for any other purpose or share it with any other third party.
For more information. You can obtain additional information on the protection of your data by visiting the Help Centre.
Quality Assurance Program
Our quality assurance program randomly chooses applications for a special review. If chosen, you may be asked to provide other information and we will ask you to attend an interview with an IRCC official to:
- verify that the documentation and any other information you submitted is accurate,
- verify that your application has been completed properly, and
- verify that you meet the requirements for citizenship.
Note: We will notify you in writing if your application is chosen.
Appendix A – Name Change
If you have changed your name, consult the information below to determine the documents that are to be included with your application.
If you have legally changed your name within Canada
Then you must submit a copy of the change of name document issued by a Canadian province or territory, or by the appropriate foreign-state authority. The document must show both your previous and amended names.
The following documents are accepted:
- Legal change of name document
- Court order specifying name change
- Adoption order
The following documents are accepted for changes to family name only:
- Marriage certificate
- Divorce decree
- Registration or declaration of union issued by civil authorities
- Revocation of declaration or annulment of union issued by civil authorities
- Registration for common-law relationship, in provinces that permit changes of name for common-law relationships under their provincial/territorial law
If you have legally changed your name outside Canada and are residing in Canada
Then you must provide a copy of the following documents:
- A foreign passport or other national authoritative documentation amended to reflect the new name;
- A foreign name change document that links your previous name to your new name, such as a foreign marriage certificate (with an official translation); and
- A document in the new name from Canadian provinces or territories (ex. driver's licence, health card, age of majority card, senior citizen’s identification card, or social service card)
If you have legally changed your name outside Canada and are residing outside Canada
Then you must provide a copy of the following documents:
- a foreign passport or other national authoritative documentation amended to reflect the new name;
- a foreign name change document that links your previous name to your new name, such as a foreign marriage certificate (with an official translation) or other foreign legal change of name document issued by foreign authorities; and
- an authoritative national or state/province (or equivalent) issued photo identification document issued in the country or state/province in which you reside that displays the new name, such as:
- a foreign passport or other travel documents, if you are a dual citizen;
- a state/provincial (or equivalent) identification card.
If you have applied and obtained an amendment to your Record of Landing, or Confirmation of Permanent Residence due to errors made by Canadian immigration officials when recording your name, then you must submit a copy of the amendment or a letter confirming the change of name.
Important information: Once processing of your application has begun a name change can only be made due to an administrative error made by the Department, or a legal change of name.
Important information: You cannot request a change of an adopted person’s name after Part 2 of the application has been submitted.
If satisfactory documentation is not provided with the application to support the request for a change of name, the name that appears on the citizenship certificate will be the name listed on the adoption order.
Appendix B – Date of Birth Correction
The date of birth on your citizenship certificate will be the same as the one shown on your immigration document unless you:
- have corrected your date of birth on your immigration document or
- have legally changed it after arriving in Canada or
- are requesting a different date of birth for your citizenship certificate and you can provide supporting documents.
If your date of birth has been corrected on your immigration document then you must provide a copy of:
- an approved Request to Amend Immigration Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688), and
- your new corrected Permanent Resident Card (if you have one).
If you have legally changed your date of birth by a provincial/territorial court order then you must provide a copy of:
- provincial/territorial court order changing your date of birth and
- completed questionnaire Request to Correct a Date of Birth for a Permanent Resident Document or Citizenship Certificate [IRM 0003] (PDF, 2.4 MB)
If you did not change your date of birth by a provincial/territorial court order and your date of birth has not been corrected on your immigration document then you must provide a copy of:
- a refused Request to Amend the Immigration Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688) and
- completed questionnaire Request to Correct a Date of Birth for a Permanent Resident Document or Citizenship Certificate [IRM 0003] (PDF, 2.4 MB), and
- documents to support your new date of birth.
Important information: You cannot request a change in your date of birth after your application has been submitted. If satisfactory documentation is not provided with the application to support the date of birth requested, the citizenship certificate will reflect the date of birth indicated on your immigration document.
Important information: If you do not have a provincial/territorial court order changing your date of birth, you must first request an amendment to your immigration document before requesting a different date of birth on your citizenship certificate.
For more information. For information on amending your immigration document refer to the guide Request to Amend Record of Landing, Confirmation of Permanent Residence or Valid Temporary Resident Documents (IMM 5218)
Appendix C – Change of Gender Designation
If you need to change the gender on your citizenship certificate or would like to use a different gender than the one on your immigration document, complete and submit the Request form for a Change of Sex or Gender Identifier (IRM 0002) (opens in new tab) with your application.
Features
Appendix D – Waiver Request(s) and/or Guardianship Documents
If you need to request a waiver of the knowledge and/or language requirements due to compassionate grounds, please submit the Waiver Request Form (CIT 0116) (opens in new tab) filled out to provide us with an explanation of the details of your request.
If you are requesting a waiver of the knowledge and/or language requirements due to a medical condition, we recommend you provide the Medical Opinion Form for Citizenship Waivers (CIT 0547) (opens in new tab) , filled out by a medical professional (physician, psychologist, or nurse practitioner) licensed to practice in Canada.
If you are requesting a waiver of taking the oath of citizenship, please submit the Medical Opinion Form for Citizenship Waivers (CIT 0547) (opens in new tab) . Waivers of the oath of citizenship only occur if you are unable to understand the significance of taking the oath of citizenship due to mental disability.
If you have a legal guardian who we should be corresponding with, please provide documents showing guardianship. Documents could include a power of attorney document, judicial court order, an affidavit, or other documentation proving guardianship.
Affidavits should:
- be written by the guardian in the person's own style;
- indicate that they are qualified to act on the applicant's behalf;
- be in simple, understandable English or French;
- contain specific information outlined below; and
- include signed statements/letters, outlining the facts, of other family members/interested parties, if available.
The information required in an affidavit to act on behalf of a citizenship applicant should include:
- Application ID number (if known)
- (Name of guardian) of the city of (name of city) in the province of (name of province) affirm that:
- Using the first person, the guardian should state what his/her relationship is to the applicant (applicant's name) born on (applicant's date of birth) in (applicant's place of birth), whose application for citizenship is being/was made on (date of application).
- The guardian should state why they are acting on behalf of the applicant (include applicant’s name). The guardian should include any important facts, including the nature of the relationship with the client and any legal authority presently held showing that the guardian can represent the client.
- The guardian should state whether they are acting in the best interest of the client. The guardian should include any known personal knowledge of the client's needs and wishes.
- The guardian should state whether any medical information about the applicant was provided to IRCC.
- The guardian signs the affidavit.
- The affidavit is attested by an authorized person.
Need help?
If you need help, you can find answers to your questions by visiting the Help Centre.
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