Valid proofs of Canadian citizenship

If you need to prove that you’re a Canadian citizen, find out

• what documents you can use
• when and how to use them

Documents you can use

You can use these documents to prove your Canadian citizenship:

•  citizenship certificates
  • electronic certificates (e-certificates)
  • paper certificates
  • older paper citizenship certificates
•  citizenship cards
•  other acceptable proofs like
  • some birth certificates
  • naturalization certificates

 Citizenship certificates

A citizenship certificate is an official document that proves your Canadian citizenship. You’ll get the certificate after we approve your application

• to become a Canadian citizen (citizenship grant)
• for a Canadian citizenship certificate
• to resume your Canadian citizenship after giving it up

When you apply, you need to choose between the electronic or paper format of the certificate in your application.

Electronic certificates (e-certificates)

The e-certificate is the digital format of the citizenship certificate. It’s a valid proof of Canadian citizenship that has

• a certificate number that starts with an "X"
  • This is the only difference with a paper certificate (where the number starts with a "K")
• your unique client identifier (UCI)
• your family name and given name(s)
• your date of birth
• your gender (male, female or another gender)
• the effective date of citizenship

Learn more about e-certificates, including how to

• download and print the e-certificate
• contact us if there are any issues

Effective date of citizenship

The effective date depends on your citizenship application.

If you applied to become a Canadian citizen or resume your citizenship

The effective date is either

• the date of the citizenship ceremony or
• the date we approved your application, which applies to
  • adopted children who were born abroad
  • minors under 14
  • those with a ceremony waiver (exemption)

If you applied for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship)

The effective date is your date of birth if

• your Canadian parent passed down their citizenship to you (for example, you were born abroad to a Canadian parent) or
• you were born in Canada (for example, you have never had a citizenship certificate and want to have one)

The effective date will be the date we restored your citizenship if you applied for the certificate because you’re affected by a change in citizenship law(opens in a new tab) .

Example of an e-certificate

Paper certificates

A paper certificate is a 8½ x 11-inch document that’s valid proof of citizenship. It has the same information as an e-certificate:

• the certificate number that starts with a "K"
  • This is the only difference with an electronic certificate (where the number starts with an "X")
• your unique client identifier (UCI)
• your family name and given name(s)
• your date of birth
• your gender (male, female or another gender)
• the effective date of citizenship

Example of a paper citizenship certificate

Older paper citizenship certificates

We gave out different citizenship certificates in the past. These older certificates are still valid as proof of Canadian citizenship.

Examples of older citizenship certificates

 Citizenship cards

We stopped giving citizenship cards and the commemorative certificates that came with them in February 2012.

If you have a citizenship card, it’s still a valid proof of Canadian citizenship.

• The date on your citizenship card is not the date you became a Canadian citizen (it’s the date we produced the card).
• To update or replace your citizenship card, apply for a citizenship certificate.

Example of a citizenship card

 Other acceptable proofs

• birth certificates from a Canadian province or territory (there are exceptions)
• naturalization certificates issued before January 1, 1947
• registration of birth abroad certificates issued between January 1, 1947 and February 14, 1977
• certificates of retention issued between January 1, 1947 and February 14, 1977

When and how to use a proof of citizenship

You can use the proof document as evidence of your Canadian citizenship when applying for

•  a Canadian passport
•  a pension or government benefit
•  your social insurance number (SIN)
•  a job
•  and more

Make sure you follow the instructions for your application.

• You may have to submit the original or a copy of the proof.
• If you have an e-certificate, you may need to print it.

You cannot use a proof of citizenship as

• a passport or travel document
•  an identity document
  • A citizenship proof is evidence of your Canadian citizenship, but it doesn’t prove your identity.

If you’re travelling abroad or returning to Canada

Proof of citizenship is not a passport or travel document.

• For example, a border agent at an airport won’t accept a citizenship certificate or card as a passport replacement.
• To travel abroad and return to Canada, you must have a valid passport or travel document(opens in a new tab) .

Exception: Children 15 and under who travel between United States and Canada by land or sea

If there’s no passport, they can use

• a Canadian citizenship card
• an original or a copy of their Canadian birth certificate
  • It should be issued by the province or territory where they were born.
• an original Canadian citizenship certificate

When they turn 16, they will need a passport to enter the US.

Learn more about travelling to the US from Canada(opens in a new tab) .

 Don’t re-laminate or laminate your proof of citizenship

Re-laminating or laminating a proof of citizenship document will make it invalid.

If you have a citizenship card, it was already laminated when you received it from us. You must not re-laminate the card (even if the original lamination peeled) because it will

• blur the security features of the original laminate
• make it difficult to detect a fake card

If you have other proofs (such as a printed e-certificate, paper citizenship certificate or birth certificate), don’t laminate them because it can affect the readability of the document.

 Protect your proof of citizenship

To prevent loss, misuse or fraud, be sure to keep your proof of citizenship document in a secure location (whether it’s a digital file or paper document).

If you lost a proof of citizenship document

You can replace a lost proof of citizenship document. How you replace it depends on the type of proof that was lost.