Canadian citizenship application document checklist
Quick answer
An adult applying for Canadian citizenship generally needs proof of permanent resident status, evidence of physical presence in Canada for the required number of days within the qualifying period, a complete travel history for that period, acceptable proof of English or French for applicants in the relevant age range, and evidence that income tax filing obligations were met. The physical presence calculation and the travel history are where most applications run into problems.
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Generally required
- Valid passport and all passports held during the qualifying periodEvery page with a stamp or visa — entry and exit stamps support the presence calculation.
- Permanent resident card, both sidesAn expired card does not end permanent resident status, but include what you hold.
- Two identical citizenship photos meeting the published specifications
- Personal identification showing name and date of birthFor example a driver's licence, provincial health card or foreign identity document.
Program-specific
- Physical presence calculation for the qualifying periodProduced with the official presence calculator and printed with the application.
- Complete travel history for the qualifying periodEvery absence from Canada with departure and return dates. An entry and exit record can be requested from the Canada Border Services Agency.
- Proof of English or French abilityRequired for applicants in the age range set out in the Citizenship Act — approved test results, or a Canadian secondary or post-secondary transcript in English or French.
- Proof that income tax filing obligations were metFor the required number of tax years within the qualifying period.
Situation-dependent
- Documents for a spouse or partner applying at the same time
- Birth certificates and status documents for children included in the application
- Records of time spent outside Canada while employed by a Canadian employer or the public service
- Business and tax records covering self-employment during the qualifying period
- Identity and status documents from every country you lived in during the qualifying period
- Explanation and supporting documents for any prior refusal or misrepresentation finding
May be requested
- Court records where any charge or conviction exists
- Additional proof of residence, such as leases, employment records, utility accounts or school records
- Use of a representative form, where a representative is acting for you
Where applications most often go wrong
- • Counting days since landing rather than days physically present in Canada
- • Omitting short trips across the border, which the entry and exit record will show
- • Applying before the required number of days has been reached, with no margin for error
- • Assuming the language requirement does not apply without checking the age range in force
- • Letting permanent resident obligations lapse while the citizenship application is pending
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Copy a plain-text summary with the estimate disclaimer and the official source attached.
This checklist is a preparation aid. The document requirements that govern your application are those on the official IRCC document checklist generated for that application at the time you submit it.
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