Name change requests for citizenship purposes
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
Information related to a change of name can be found in Naming procedures: Establishing name records in CIC systems.
Change of name
The Case Processing Centre in Sydney (CPC-S) processes requests for legal change of name requested during grant applications, up until the application is sent to a local office for processing (if applicable), and proof applications. If the applicant requests a name change during the processing of a grant application because of a legal change of name, local offices are responsible for making the decision on the name change request. If the legal change of name is approved, the local office will enter the new name in the Global Case Management System (GCMS) and will initiate clearances under the new name. In the case where a citizen requests a name change (based on a legal change of name) after the citizenship ceremony, a proof application will have to be submitted with the appropriate processing fee.
Truncated (shortened) names on the immigration document
For persons applying for a grant of citizenship under subsection 5(1) (adult), subsection 5(2) (minor) or section 11 (resumption) of the Citizenship Act with a truncated name on their immigration document (the Record of Landing, Confirmation of Permanent Residence or permanent resident card), the citizenship certificate will be issued in the full name, as it appears in the primary name field in GCMS. Officers should note that GCMS permits 50 characters for the family name(s) and 50 characters for the given name(s); therefore, if a name is truncated on the immigration document, officers should ensure that the name on the citizenship certificate either is the full name or includes the maximum number of characters the system will print.
If Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is at fault for the improper name appearing on the citizenship certificate, the certificate will be corrected and reprinted at no cost by the office that was responsible for printing the initial certificate.