Valid proofs of Canadian citizenship

 Citizenship certificates

A citizenship certificate is an official document that proves your Canadian citizenship. You’ll get the certificate after we approve your application

• to become a Canadian citizen (citizenship grant)
• for a Canadian citizenship certificate
• to resume your Canadian citizenship after giving it up

When you apply, you need to choose between the electronic or paper format of the certificate in your application.

Electronic certificates (e-certificates)

The e-certificate is the digital format of the citizenship certificate. It’s a valid proof of Canadian citizenship that has

• a certificate number that starts with an "X"
  • This is the only difference with a paper certificate (where the number starts with a "K")
• your unique client identifier (UCI)
• your family name and given name(s)
• your date of birth
• your gender (male, female or another gender)
• the effective date of citizenship

Learn more about e-certificates, including how to

• download and print the e-certificate
• contact us if there are any issues

Example of an e-certificate

Paper certificates

A paper certificate is a 8½ x 11-inch document that’s valid proof of citizenship. It has the same information as an e-certificate:

• the certificate number that starts with a "K"
  • This is the only difference with an electronic certificate (where the number starts with an "X")
• your unique client identifier (UCI)
• your family name and given name(s)
• your date of birth
• your gender (male, female or another gender)
• the effective date of citizenship

Example of a paper citizenship certificate

Older paper citizenship certificates

We gave out different citizenship certificates in the past. These older certificates are still valid as proof of Canadian citizenship.

Examples of older citizenship certificates

 Citizenship cards

We stopped giving citizenship cards and the commemorative certificates that came with them in February 2012.

If you have a citizenship card, it’s still a valid proof of Canadian citizenship.

• The date on your citizenship card is not the date you became a Canadian citizen (it’s the date we produced the card).
• To update or replace your citizenship card, apply for a citizenship certificate.

Example of a citizenship card

 Other acceptable proofs

• birth certificates from a Canadian province or territory (there are exceptions)
• naturalization certificates issued before January 1, 1947
• registration of birth abroad certificates issued between January 1, 1947 and February 14, 1977
• certificates of retention issued between January 1, 1947 and February 14, 1977

When and how to use a proof of citizenship

You can use the proof document as evidence of your Canadian citizenship when applying for

•  a Canadian passport
•  a pension or government benefit
•  your social insurance number (SIN)
•  a job
•  and more

Make sure you follow the instructions for your application.

• You may have to submit the original or a copy of the proof.
• If you have an e-certificate, you may need to print it.

You cannot use a proof of citizenship as

• a passport or travel document
•  an identity document
  • A citizenship proof is evidence of your Canadian citizenship, but it doesn’t prove your identity.

 Don’t re-laminate or laminate your proof of citizenship

Re-laminating or laminating a proof of citizenship document will make it invalid.

If you have a citizenship card, it was already laminated when you received it from us. You must not re-laminate the card (even if the original lamination peeled) because it will

• blur the security features of the original laminate
• make it difficult to detect a fake card

If you have other proofs (such as a printed e-certificate, paper citizenship certificate or birth certificate), don’t laminate them because it can affect the readability of the document.

 Protect your proof of citizenship

To prevent loss, misuse or fraud, be sure to keep your proof of citizenship document in a secure location (whether it’s a digital file or paper document).

If you lost a proof of citizenship document

You can replace a lost proof of citizenship document. How you replace it depends on the type of proof that was lost.