Canadian Citizenship Application Document Checklist

1. Do I need to submit every passport I held during the five-year eligibility period?

You must provide information about passports and travel documents that were valid during your eligibility period.

For a paper application, IRCC generally requires colour photocopies of the identity pages of those passports and travel documents. If a passport’s validity was formally extended, the relevant extension pages should also be included.

2. What if I no longer have one of my old passports?

You should not leave the period unexplained. IRCC’s application asks applicants who did not have a passport or travel document during part of the eligibility period to explain the circumstances.

If a document has been lost or is unavailable, provide accurate information and any explanation or supporting evidence required by the application instructions.

3. Do I have to submit my PR card?

A PR card can be used as one of your identification documents, but it is not the only type of identification IRCC accepts.

If you use a PR card for a paper application, IRCC requires the second piece of identification to be issued by a Canadian federal, provincial or territorial government.

4. Can I use an expired PR card as identification?

Yes. IRCC specifically allows applicants to use either a valid or expired PR card as identification for a citizenship application.

5. What language document do I need for citizenship?

Applicants who are 18 to 54 years old when they sign their application must generally submit acceptable proof of English or French ability.

Depending on your circumstances, acceptable evidence may include certain secondary or post-secondary educational documents, approved language test results, or qualifying government-funded language program certificates.

6. Do I need a police certificate for my citizenship application?

Possibly. An adult applicant generally needs a police certificate from a country other than Canada if, during the four years before applying, they were in that country for 183 days or more in a row after turning 18.

There are exceptions, including certain periods immediately before becoming a permanent resident.

7. Do I need to submit my Canadian tax returns or Notices of Assessment?

Not as part of the standard document checklist simply to prove the citizenship tax requirement. The citizenship application asks about your tax filing history and authorizes IRCC to obtain specified tax information from the Canada Revenue Agency.

IRCC may request additional information if necessary.

8. What if one of my documents is not in English or French?

Documents that are not in English or French generally need to be accompanied by an acceptable translation. Depending on the document and application instructions, additional translator documentation may also be required.

Applicants should follow IRCC’s current translation requirements rather than submitting an informal translation.

9. Can IRCC request additional documents after I submit my application?

Yes. Even if your application was complete when submitted, IRCC may later request additional documents or information, such as fingerprints, police certificates, court documents, identity documents or other evidence needed to assess your eligibility.