Guide CIT 0003 - Application for Canadian Citizenship - Minors (under 18 years of age)

Possible loss of other citizenship

The minor could lose their present nationality or citizenship if they become a Canadian citizen. If you have any questions about this, please contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country or territory of the minor’s present nationality before applying for Canadian citizenship.

Step 2 - Gather the minor’s documents

Submit the following documents with your application:

1. Colour photocopies of the minor’s biographical page of all valid and expired Passport(s)/Travel documents for the five (5) years immediately before the date of application, or since the minor became a permanent resident if that date is more recent than five (5) years. 

   The biographical page means the page where it has the minor’s name, photo, passport/travel document number, issue date and expiration date.

   If the minor was included in the passport(s) of one of the parents, provide copies of that (these) passport(s).

   Provide photocopies of any renewal pages of the passport(s)/travel document(s).

   Note: If any of these documents are no longer in your possession, provide an explanation in the space provided in question 8C on the application form.

   Note: If there are any gaps in time between the validity periods of the minor’s passports or travel documents during the past five (5) years, or since the minor became a permanent resident if the minor became a permanent resident within the past five years, provide an explanation in the space provided in question 8D.

2. Colour photocopy of two (2) pieces of personal identification.
   Both pieces of identification should show the minor’s name and date of birth, one of which must have a photo on it.
   Examples include:
   • 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
   • school record;
   • health insurance card;
   • a passport page containing their photo and personal details;
   • a hospital or immunization record, may be provided.
   • Note: If there is information on both sides of the identification document, photocopy both sides.
3. Photocopy of birth certificate or adoption order.
   The document must show:
   • the minor’s name;
   • date of birth;
   • place of birth;
   • the names of the parents or adoptive parents.

4. For an adopted minor living in Quebec, you must submit one of the following documents:

   • jugement d’adoption ;
   • jugement sur requête en adoption ;
   • reconnaissance de jugement d’adoption ;
   • certificat d’inscription d’adoption ;
   • attestation d’adoption ;
   • lettre d’attestation d’adoption.
5. One (1) photocopy of proof of the parent’s Canadian citizenship (if applicable)
   Examples include:
   • provincial/territorial birth certificate;
   • certificate of Canadian citizenship;
   • certificate of naturalization;
   • certificate of Registration of Birth Abroad;
   • certificate of retention issued between January 1, 1947 and February 14, 1977.
6. Photocopy of Proof of guardianship (if applicable)
   A legal guardian applying on behalf of the minor must provide legal documentation proving guardianship.
7. Citizenship photos – Two (2) identical citizenship photographs
8. Fee Receipt - The application fee of $100.00 per minor paid online.
9. Document Checklist (CIT 0008) (opens in new tab) 

Step 3. Complete the application form

• Application for Canadian Citizenship – Minors (under 18 years of age) (CIT 0003)

  Get the instructions (opens in a new tab)

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:

• a notary public;
• a commissioner of oaths; or
• a commissioner of taking affidavits.

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.

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: $100 for each minor (under 18 years of age) applicant.

You cannot get a refund once processing of the minor’s application has begun, even if you withdraw the application, abandon the application or if the minor’s application is refused.

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.

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 (CPC) in Sydney makes sure the application:

• meets the minimum processing requirements;
• includes all the required documents;
• has the right fee.

You will receive:

• acknowledgement of receipt;
• correspondence asking for more information (in some cases).

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 your application is returned, we’ll 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
  • fill out a new application form
    • if so, use the newest version of the form: Application for Canadian Citizenship – Minors (under 18 years of age) (CIT 0003) (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 used for the first form when you resubmit the application
  • resubmit any documents

Be sure to check the Document Checklist (CIT 0008) (opens in new tab) . Once you get the information we ask for in the letter, resubmit your complete application.

Decision

• The IRCC office completes the steps necessary for a citizenship officer or a citizenship judge to make a decision on the application.
• The applicant and person applying on their behalf may be asked to come to the IRCC office for an interview to:
  • review the original documents submitted in support of the application,
  • all passports and travel documents for the five (5) year eligibility period or since the minor became a permanent resident.

Correspondence you may receive:

• Notice to appear to take the oath of citizenship;
• Certificate of Canadian Citizenship received at the ceremony after taking the oath of citizenship;
• Notice of a negative decision of the minor’s request to waive the requirement that the application be made by a person with custody/empowered to act on behalf of the minor;
• Notice to appear for an interview with a citizenship official; and/or,
• Notice to appear for a hearing with a citizenship officer or a citizenship judge.

Take the oath

If, up until this point, the minor meets all the requirements for citizenship, the final requirement is to take the oath of citizenship to become a Canadian citizen.

Minors aged 14 or older will receive an invitation to attend a citizenship ceremony and take the oath of citizenship before a citizenship judge or presiding official. Once the oath is taken, the minor will receive their Certificate of Canadian Citizenship.

Minors under 14 years of age are not required to take the oath of citizenship at a ceremony. However minors are welcome to attend a citizenship ceremony. If you would like them to attend a ceremony, please check the box “Yes” in question 10 on the application form.

To avoid delays or closure of the minor’s application, tell us as soon as possible if you/ the minor can’t attend the scheduled ceremony.

Remember to tell us if any of the situations that prevent a person from becoming a citizen apply to the minor when arriving at the ceremony.

• To request an oath waiver for minors aged 14-17 due to a medical reason, 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 the waiver request.
• To request an oath waiver for minors aged 14-17 due to other compassionate grounds, please provide a Waiver Request Form for Minor Applicants [CIT 0554] (opens in new tab)  with any additional documents that support the request.
• Requesting a waiver does not guarantee it will be approved. Waiver requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Protecting your information

Your personal information is:

• available to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) employees who need to see it to provide the services to you, and
• not disclosed to other organizations except as permitted under the provisions of the Privacy Act or 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 subsections 5(1.2) of the Citizenship Act, subsection 26.6 of the Citizenship Regulations and paragraph 2(2)(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(1.2) 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 about the protection of your data, visit the Frequently Asked Questions/Help Centre.

Appendix C – Change of Gender Designation

If the minor would like to use a different gender than the one on the immigration document or need to change the gender on their citizenship certificate, complete and submit the Request form for a Change of Sex or Gender Identifier (IRM 0002) (opens in new tab)  with your application.

Appendix D – Waiver Request

If the minor is 14 and over and is requesting a waiver of the oath of citizenship, please submit the appropriate form(s):

• For a waiver based on medical grounds, please submit 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. You should also provide any additional documentation that we should consider with the waiver request.
• For a waiver based on other compassionate grounds, please submit a Waiver Request Form for Minor Applicants [CIT 0554] (opens in new tab)  with any additional documents that support the request.
• Requesting a waiver does not guarantee it will be approved. Waiver requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis.