Canadian Nationality Law - Documentary Proof of Canadian Citizenship

Documentary Proof of Canadian Citizenship

For people who acquired citizenship by birth within Canada on or after 15 February 1977, a birth certificate issued by the province or territory concerned is adequate proof of the fact. Those born before that date must take note of the various rules concerning loss of citizenship that were previously in force, in order to confirm their status.

For people who acquired citizenship by birth outside Canada under the 1947 Act, a certificate of registration of birth abroad or a certificate of retention of Canadian citizenship issued before 15 February 1977 would also constitute proof of citizenship.

Otherwise, a certificate of Canadian citizenship (known under previous legislation as a "certificate of naturalization") is the only legal proof of such status. It is issued to permanent residents who have applied for Canadian citizenship and have sworn the required oath of citizenship. It is also issued at the request of any other Canadian citizen, but could take many months to be issued. It is illegal to be in possession of more than one certificate of citizenship or naturalization.

A Canadian passport, while more appropriately known as a travel or identity document, is also seen as proof of Canadian citizenship, but it is issued only after review of other documentary proof, as noted above.

For decades the Canadian Government issued both a commemorative certificate of Canadian Citizenship and a Credit Card sized Certificate commonly called a Canadian Citizenship Card, which featured a photograph of the Canadian, along with biographical information such as name, height and eye colour. Using these cards as photo identification was problematic. There was no legal requirement to periodically update the cards to take into account physical changes caused by aging, and the card lacked modern security features. Many Canadians who obtained Citizenship as children continued to use cards issued to them as children as legal photo identification well into adulthood. Furthermore, obtaining a replacement photo card when the original was lost or stolen was time consuming, often taking many months, which could delay obtaining other forms of photo ID such as a passport. In 2012 the Government of Canada decided to discontinue the photo cards. The commorative certificates have been redesigned and are now recognized as the legitimate proof of Canadian Citizenship. In making this change the Government asserted that this change would make the document more secure, and ensure that proof of Canadian Citizenship would no longer be used as an ID or travel document, and cited the prohibitive cost of replacing card making equipment and updating the photo ID cards with modern security features.