Resuming Canadian Citizenship: Eligibility and Application Process
Resuming Canadian Citizenship: Application Process
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who can apply to resume Canadian
citizenship?
Resumption is intended for someone who was previously
a Canadian citizen, later ceased to be a citizen, and now wants to regain
Canadian citizenship.
The applicant must meet the specific requirements
under subsection 11(1) of the Citizenship Act.
2. Do I need 1,095 days in Canada to
resume citizenship?
No. The 1,095-day requirement applies to most regular
adult citizenship grant applications.
For resumption, you generally need at least 365
days of physical presence in Canada as a permanent resident during the two
years immediately before applying.
3. Do I need to become a permanent
resident again before applying?
Yes. You must have become a permanent resident after
losing your Canadian citizenship.
You must also have no unfulfilled conditions relating
to your permanent resident status.
4. Can I use the resumption process if
my Canadian citizenship was revoked?
No. A person whose Canadian citizenship was revoked
does not qualify for the regular resumption process under subsection 11(1).
Revocation and voluntary or historical loss of
citizenship are treated differently under the Citizenship Act.
5. Do I have to take the citizenship
test or meet the regular language requirement?
The standard language and citizenship knowledge
requirements that apply to most adult citizenship grants are not part of the
eligibility requirements for resumption under subsection 11(1).
However, you must satisfy all of the specific
requirements that apply to a resumption application.
6. Do I have to file Canadian income
taxes before applying?
You must have met any applicable obligation under the Income Tax Act to file an income tax return for the taxation year
immediately before the year in which you apply.
Whether you were actually required to file depends on
your individual tax circumstances.
7. What if I may already have become a
Canadian citizen again automatically?
Before applying for resumption, you should confirm
whether you are already a citizen.
Changes to Canadian citizenship legislation have
restored citizenship automatically to some people who lost citizenship under
older laws. If you are already a citizen, the appropriate application may be
for a citizenship certificate rather than resumption.
8. How do I apply to resume Canadian
citizenship?
IRCC currently uses the Application to Resume
Canadian Citizenship (CIT 0301). The completed application and supporting
documents are submitted by mail to IRCC’s Case Processing Centre in Sydney,
Nova Scotia.
9. How much does it cost to resume
Canadian citizenship?
As of September 2026, the government processing fee
is $530 for an adult and $100 for a minor under 18.
Government fees can change, so the current IRCC fee
schedule should be checked before filing.
10. Could resuming Canadian citizenship
affect my other citizenship?
Possibly. Canadian law permits dual citizenship, but
another country may have different rules.
IRCC advises applicants to determine whether resuming Canadian citizenship could affect their existing nationality or citizenship under the laws of the other country.
A former Canadian citizen may be able to resume
Canadian citizenship through a special process under subsection 11(1) of
the Citizenship Act. Resumption is different from applying for
citizenship for the first time and has its own eligibility requirements.
To qualify, you must previously have been a Canadian
citizen and must have lost your citizenship for a reason other than revocation.
After losing citizenship, you must have become a Canadian permanent resident
and have no unfulfilled conditions relating to your PR status.
The physical presence requirement is also different
from a regular adult citizenship application. Instead of requiring 1,095 days
during the previous five years, a person applying to resume citizenship must
generally have been physically present in Canada as a permanent resident for at
least 365 days during the two years immediately before applying.
You must also have met any applicable Canadian income
tax filing obligation for the taxation year immediately before the year in
which you apply. You cannot be under a removal order or subject to a
citizenship prohibition.
Before applying for resumption, it is important to
confirm that you actually lost Canadian citizenship. Changes to Canadian
citizenship law have automatically restored citizenship to some people who lost
it under previous legislation. Someone who is already a Canadian citizen should
apply for proof of citizenship rather than resumption.
IRCC currently requires a resumption application to
be made using the Application to Resume Canadian Citizenship (CIT 0301) and submitted by mail with the required supporting documents and fees.
