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Apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate: After you apply

Electronic citizenship certificate (e-certificate)

Learn more about the e-certificate

Applications submitted before January 4, 2023

We’re offering the e-certificate option to some applicants who submitted their applications before January 4, 2023.

If we offer you the e-certificate option, you

  • will receive an invitation by email
  • may accept or decline the invitation
    • If you accept the invitation, follow the email’s instruction for your next steps.
    • If you decline the invitation, you’ll get a paper certificate(opens in a new tab)  (if we approve your application).

You’ll only receive an e-certificate if

  •   you accept the invitation
  •   you meet the application requirements
  •   we approve your application

We cannot guarantee that we’ll approve your application or process it faster.

Processing your application

Once we receive your application, we’ll review your application to make sure it’s complete.

If your case is complex, we may

  • contact you to get more information or documents
  • need more time to process your application

There may be a delay between when we receive your application and when we start processing it.

Answer the following questions to find out how we’ll process your application.

Processing time

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Applications outside Canada and the United States may take longer.

Processing times

Your processing time starts the day we receive your complete application and ends when we make a decision. Processing times will vary based on:

  • the type of application submitted
  • if the application is complete
  • how quickly we expect to process applications we’ve already received
  • how easily we can verify your information
  • how long you take to respond to any requests or concerns
  • other factors

Learn how processing times are calculated.

Processing times for applications outside Canada and the United States

Add 3 to 4 months to account for mailing time if you

  • live outside Canada and the U.S. and
  • are applying through a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate

Add 6 to 8 months to processing time if you

  • are applying for a minor (under 18) who lives outside Canada and the U.S. and
  • sent the application directly to the Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia

If you applied online

After you submit your online application, you’ll see a confirmation page. This page

  • confirms you successfully submitted your application
  • has a confirmation number. Keep it for your records.

After we check that your application is complete, we’ll send you

Incomplete online application

If your online application is incomplete, you’ll get a message in your online account.

Update your online application

Keep your application up to date to avoid delays.

  • If we need more documents from you, we’ll send a message in your account asking you to submit them (opens in a new tab)  through your online account.
  • If you need to send documents we didn’t ask for, use the web form (opens in a new tab) .
  • Let us know if you change your address (opens in a new tab) .

If you need urgent processing

We can process applications faster than our normal processing times (opens in a new tab)  in special cases, such as for

  • accessing benefits like
    • a pension
    • health care
    • a Social Insurance Number
  • proving you’re a Canadian citizen to get a job
  • travelling to or from Canada because of a death or serious illness in your family

To ask for urgent processing of your submitted application

  • fill out the web form (opens in a new tab)  to explain why you need urgent processing
  • include
    • your full name, date of birth, email address and telephone numbers
    • a message that starts with “Request for urgent processing”
    • any documents that will support your explanation
  • make sure your documents are in the correct format

We’ll review your request to see if it qualifies. Even if you qualify, we can’t guarantee that you’ll get your citizenship certificate on time.

Examples of supporting documents

  • a plane ticket or itinerary, with proof of payment
  • a letter from your employer
  • a letter from your school
  • a doctor’s note
  • a death certificate

File format requirements

Files must be

  • in PDF, JPEG, TIFF, DOC, or DOCX format
  • 2 MB or smaller

If you include multiple files, the total size must be 3.5 MB or smaller.

How to reduce file size (opens in a new tab) 

Check the status of your online application

Sign in to your online account (opens in a new tab)  to check your application status.

Withdrawing your application

You may withdraw (cancel) your application (opens in a new tab) . If you do, you may be eligible for a refund (opens in a new tab) .

Final decision

If you are a Canadian citizen and we approve your application, you’ll get a citizenship certificate.

If you’re not a Canadian citizen, we’ll send you a refusal letter. Your fee will not be refunded.

Receiving your certificate or refusal letter

If you asked for an electronic certificate (e-certificate)

The link to your e-certificate or the refusal letter will be in your IRCC secure account (opens in a new tab) .

If you asked for a paper certificate

If you applied from Canada or the United States

  If you’re a Canadian citizen, we’ll mail your certificate to your mailing address in Canada or the United States.

  If you’re not a citizen, the refusal letter will be in your IRCC secure account (opens in a new tab) .

If you applied from outside Canada and the United States

  If you’re a Canadian citizen, we’ll mail your certificate to the embassy, high commission or consulate you chose in your application.

  If you’re not a citizen, your refusal letter will be sent to your IRCC secure account (opens in a new tab) .

If you applied on paper from Canada or the United States (email provided)

After we check that your application is complete, you’ll get

If you have a tracking number with a postal or courier service, you can check if they delivered your application to us.

Incomplete paper application

If your application is incomplete, we’ll

  • return your application and
  • send you a letter asking you to resubmit the application with the missing information

Update your paper application

If you need to update your application

If you need urgent processing

We can process applications faster than our normal processing times (opens in a new tab)  in special cases, such as for

  • accessing benefits like
    • a pension
    • health care
    • a Social Insurance Number
  • proving you’re a Canadian citizen to get a job
  • travelling to or from Canada because of a death or serious illness in your family

To ask for urgent processing of your submitted application

  • fill out the web form (opens in a new tab)  to explain why you need urgent processing
  • include
    • your full name, date of birth, email address and telephone numbers
    • an explanation letter
    • any documents that will support your explanation
  • make sure your documents are in the correct format

We’ll review your request to see if it qualifies. Even if you qualify, we can’t guarantee that you’ll get your citizenship certificate on time.

Check the status of your paper application

After you receive your acknowledgement of receipt (AOR), you can check the status of your paper application online (opens in a new tab) .

If you can’t see your status online and the normal processing time has passed, contact us using our web form (opens in a new tab) .

Withdrawing your application

You may withdraw (cancel) your application (opens in a new tab) . If you do, you may be eligible for a refund (opens in a new tab) .

Final decision

 If you are a Canadian citizen and we approve your application, you’ll get a citizenship certificate.

 If you’re not a Canadian citizen, we’ll

  • send you a refusal letter and
  • still collect the processing fee

Receiving your certificate or refusal letter

If you asked for an electronic certificate (e-certificate)

We’ll send the link to the e-certificate or your refusal letter to the email address you provided in your application.

If you asked for a paper certificate

 If you’re a Canadian citizen, we’ll mail your certificate to your mailing address in Canada or the United States.

 If you’re not a citizen, we’ll send your refusal letter to the email address you provided in your application.

If you applied on paper from Canada or the United States (no email provided)

After we check that your application is complete, you’ll get

If you have a tracking number with a postal or courier service, you can check if they delivered your application to us.

Incomplete paper application

If your application is incomplete, we’ll

  • return your application and
  • send you a letter asking you to resubmit the application with the missing information

Update your paper application

If you need to update your application

If you need urgent processing

We can process applications faster than our normal processing times (opens in a new tab)  in special cases, such as for

  • accessing benefits like
    • a pension
    • health care
    • a Social Insurance Number
  • proving you’re a Canadian citizen to get a job
  • travelling to or from Canada because of a death or serious illness in your family

To ask for urgent processing of your submitted application

  • fill out the web form (opens in a new tab)  to explain why you need urgent processing
  • include
    • your full name, date of birth, email address and telephone numbers
    • an explanation letter
    • any documents that will support your explanation
  • make sure your documents are in the correct format

We’ll review your request to see if it qualifies. Even if you qualify, we can’t guarantee that you’ll get your citizenship certificate on time.

Check the status of your paper application

After you receive your acknowledgement of receipt (AOR), you can check the status of your paper application online (opens in a new tab) .

If you can’t see your status online and the normal processing time has passed, contact us using our web form (opens in a new tab) .

Withdrawing your application

You may withdraw (cancel) your application (opens in a new tab) . If you do, you may be eligible for a refund (opens in a new tab) .

Final decision

 If you are a Canadian citizen and we approve your application, you’ll get a citizenship certificate.

 If you’re not a Canadian citizen, we’ll

  • send you a refusal letter and
  • still collect the processing fee

Receiving your certificate or refusal letter

We’ll send your paper certificate or refusal letter to your mailing address in Canada or the United States.

If you applied on paper from outside Canada and the United States (email provided)

After we check that your application is complete, you’ll get

If you forgot to provide your email in your application

  • we won’t automatically send you a confirmation
  • contact the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate where you submitted your application to

Incomplete paper application

If your application is incomplete, we’ll

  • return your application and
  • send you a letter asking you to resubmit the application with the missing information

Update your paper application

If you need to update your application

If you need urgent processing

We can process applications faster than our normal processing times (opens in a new tab)  in special cases, such as for

  • accessing benefits like
    • a pension
    • health care
    • a Social Insurance Number
  • proving you’re a Canadian citizen to get a job
  • travelling to or from Canada because of a death or serious illness in your family

To ask for urgent processing of your submitted application, contact the Canadian embassy, consulate or high commission (opens in a new tab)  where you submitted your application.

We’ll review your request to see if it qualifies. Even if you qualify, we can’t guarantee that you’ll get your citizenship certificate on time.

Check the status of your paper application

After you receive your acknowledgement of receipt (AOR), you can check the status of your paper application online (opens in a new tab) .

If you can’t see your status online and the normal processing time has passed, contact the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate (opens in a new tab)  where you sent your application.

Withdrawing your application

You may withdraw (cancel) your application (opens in a new tab) . If you do, you may be eligible for a refund (opens in a new tab) .

Final decision

 If you are a Canadian citizen and we approve your application, you’ll get a citizenship certificate.

 If you’re not a Canadian citizen, we’ll

  • send you a refusal letter and
  • still collect the processing fee

Receiving your certificate or refusal letter

If you asked for an electronic certificate (e-certificate)

  If you’re a Canadian citizen, we’ll send the link to the e-certificate to the email address provided in your application.

  If you’re not a citizen, we’ll send your refusal letter to the email address provided in your application.

If you asked for a paper certificate

  If you’re a Canadian citizen, we’ll mail your certificate to the embassy, high commission or consulate where you submitted your application.

  If you’re not a citizen, we’ll send your refusal letter to the email address provided in your application.

If you applied on paper from outside Canada and the United States (no email provided)

We won’t automatically send you a confirmation.

Contact the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate where you submitted your application to

Incomplete paper application

If your application is incomplete, we’ll

  • return your application and
  • send you a letter asking you to resubmit the application with the missing information

Update your paper application

If you need to update your application

If you need urgent processing

We can process applications faster than our normal processing times (opens in a new tab)  in special cases, such as for

  • accessing benefits like
    • a pension
    • health care
    • a Social Insurance Number
  • proving you’re a Canadian citizen to get a job
  • travelling to or from Canada because of a death or serious illness in your family

To ask for urgent processing of your submitted application, contact the Canadian embassy, consulate or high commission (opens in a new tab)  where you submitted your application.

We’ll review your request to see if it qualifies. Even if you qualify, we can’t guarantee that you’ll get your citizenship certificate on time.

Check the status of your paper application

After you get your unique client identifier (UCI), you can check the status of your paper application online (opens in a new tab) 

If you can’t see your status online and the normal processing time has passed, contact the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate (opens in a new tab)  where you sent your application.

Withdrawing your application

You may withdraw (cancel) your application (opens in a new tab) . If you do, you may be eligible for a refund (opens in a new tab) .

Final decision

 If you are a Canadian citizen and we approve your application, you’ll get a citizenship certificate.

 If you’re not a Canadian citizen, we’ll

  • send you a refusal letter and
  • still collect the processing fee

Receiving your certificate or refusal letter

We’ll mail your paper certificate or refusal letter to the embassy, high commission or consulate where you submitted your application.

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