Replacing a Lost Canadian Citizenship Certificate
Replacing a Lost Canadian Citizenship Certificate
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does losing my citizenship
certificate mean I have lost Canadian citizenship?
No. The certificate is proof of your citizenship,
not the source of your citizenship status.
Losing the document does not make you stop being a
Canadian citizen. You can apply for replacement proof.
2. What should I do if my citizenship
certificate was stolen?
IRCC instructs you to report the theft to your local
police department, complete the required Solemn Declaration, and apply for a
new citizenship certificate.
3. Do I need to complete a declaration
if the certificate was lost or destroyed?
Yes. IRCC requires a Solemn Declaration Concerning
a Citizenship Certificate that was Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Never Received when the certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed. IRCC states that the
declaration must be submitted even if you do not immediately plan to replace
the certificate.
4. How much does it cost to replace a
citizenship certificate?
As of September 2026, the government processing fee
for a citizenship certificate is $75 per person.
5. Can I replace an old Canadian
citizenship card?
Yes, but IRCC will not issue another citizenship
card. Citizenship cards stopped being issued in February 2012.
If your citizenship card is lost, stolen or needs to
be replaced, you apply for a citizenship certificate instead.
6. Can I choose an electronic
certificate instead of a paper certificate?
Generally, yes. Most applicants for proof of
citizenship can choose either a paper certificate or an electronic certificate.
A person can only have one valid citizenship
certificate format at a time.
7. What if IRCC mailed my certificate
but I never received it?
If it has been more than six weeks since IRCC
mailed the certificate and you have not received it, IRCC provides a Solemn
Declaration process for reporting the missing certificate.
If more than 180 days have passed, IRCC states
that you must apply for a new citizenship certificate.
8. Can I use my citizenship certificate
to apply for a Canadian passport?
Yes. A citizenship certificate is valid proof of
Canadian citizenship and can be used as citizenship evidence when applying for
services such as a Canadian passport.
9. Can I replace a damaged citizenship
certificate?
Yes. A citizenship certificate that has been destroyed or needs replacement can be replaced through the citizenship certificate application process. IRCC also advises against laminating citizenship certificates because doing so can make the document invalid.
A Canadian citizenship certificate is official proof
of Canadian citizenship. Losing the certificate does not mean that you
lose your citizenship, but replacing it may be necessary if you need proof of
status for a Canadian passport, employment, pension, Social Insurance Number or
another purpose.
If a paper citizenship certificate has been lost,
stolen or destroyed, you can apply to IRCC for a replacement citizenship
certificate. IRCC also requires a Solemn Declaration concerning the lost,
stolen or destroyed certificate. If the certificate was stolen, IRCC instructs
applicants to report the theft to their local police department.
The replacement process does not involve applying to
become a Canadian citizen again. IRCC is issuing new proof of citizenship to
someone who is already a citizen.
Applicants can generally choose between a paper
citizenship certificate and an electronic citizenship certificate, or
e-certificate. A person can have only one valid citizenship certificate format
at a time. Electronic certificates can be downloaded and printed as needed.
Older citizenship cards remain valid proof of
citizenship if they are still available. However, IRCC stopped issuing
citizenship cards in 2012. If an old citizenship card is lost or stolen, IRCC
will not issue another card. Instead, the person must apply for a citizenship
certificate.
As of September 2026, the government processing fee
for a citizenship certificate is $75.
Applicants should provide accurate information about the lost, stolen or destroyed document and follow IRCC’s current document and declaration requirements carefully. A replacement certificate proves the same Canadian citizenship status as the original document.
