How to Resume Canadian Citizenship After You Previously Gave It Up

Who qualifies to resume Canadian citizenship?

Citizenship resumption is a specific federal process administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It is intended for certain people who were Canadian citizens in the past, stopped being Canadian citizens and now meet the requirements to regain that status.

For the standard resumption process, you must have been a Canadian citizen and lost your citizenship by a means other than revocation. You must then have become a Canadian permanent resident after the loss of citizenship and have no outstanding conditions attached to that permanent resident status.

You must also have been physically present in Canada as a permanent resident for at least 365 days during the two years immediately before the date you apply. IRCC's instruction guide cautions that time spent on probation, parole or in prison may not count toward the required physical-presence period.

You must have met any applicable requirement under the Income Tax Act to file income taxes for the taxation year immediately before the year in which you apply. You must not be under a removal order and must not be subject to a prohibition under the Citizenship Act.

When should you not use the citizenship resumption process?

You should not use Form CIT 0301 simply because you cannot find your citizenship certificate or are unsure whether you are currently Canadian. Some people who lost citizenship under older legislation later had citizenship restored automatically through amendments to the Citizenship Act. IRCC therefore advises people who are unsure of their status to determine whether they may already be Canadian before applying to resume citizenship.

The resumption process also does not apply if your Canadian citizenship was revoked. IRCC's CIT 0301 guide specifically excludes people whose citizenship was taken away through revocation.

If you need to obtain citizenship through the regular naturalization process instead, Helpydo's guide explains how to apply for Canadian citizenship after becoming a permanent resident.

How long must you live in Canada before applying?

For the standard subsection 11(1) application, becoming a permanent resident again is not enough by itself. You must have accumulated 365 days of physical presence in Canada as a permanent resident during the two years immediately before applying.

Calculate this period before completing and signing Form CIT 0301. Your eligibility is assessed against the requirements for citizenship resumption, so applying before reaching the required physical presence can result in refusal.

Canadian Armed Forces applicants may have a different physical-presence rule

IRCC provides a fast-track resumption process for certain current or former Canadian Armed Forces members. An eligible CAF member does not have to satisfy the standard requirement of living in Canada as a permanent resident for at least 365 days in the previous two years, but generally must have completed at least 182 days of service in or with the Canadian Armed Forces during the two years before applying. IRCC provides a separate CAF resumption application package for this route.

What documents do you need to resume citizenship?

The standard application uses Form CIT 0301, Application to Resume Canadian Citizenship. IRCC requires documents that establish your previous citizenship, the loss of that citizenship, your subsequent Canadian immigration status and your identity.

• Proof that you were once a Canadian citizen, such as a birth certificate or Canadian citizenship certificate.
• Proof that you ceased to be a Canadian citizen, such as a foreign naturalization certificate or written notification from Canadian citizenship authorities.
• Your Canadian immigration record, including an applicable Record of Landing or Confirmation of Permanent Residence and both sides of your Permanent Resident Card if you have one.
• At least two pieces of personal identification, one of which must contain your photograph.
• Marriage, legal name-change or other supporting documents where relevant.
• Two identical citizenship photos meeting IRCC specifications.

If you still have a Canadian citizenship certificate from your previous citizenship, IRCC instructs you to return it. Failure to return a certificate in your possession can delay processing.

Do you need original documents or photocopies?

If this is your first citizenship application, IRCC requires original documents or clear, legible certified true copies of the required documents. Certified copies must be certified by an authorized person such as a commissioner of oaths, notary public or justice of the peace. If you previously made a citizenship application, IRCC permits clear and legible photocopies of the required documents.

What if your documents are not in English or French?

Documents in another language must be accompanied by an English or French translation and, when the translator is not a Canadian certified translator, an affidavit from the person who completed the translation. You and members of your family cannot translate your documents for this application.

How much does it cost to resume Canadian citizenship in 2026?

As verified on September 3, 2026, IRCC's current fee list sets the citizenship resumption fee at $530 CAD for an applicant aged 18 or older and $100 CAD for an applicant under 18.

The resumption fee is different from the current fee for an ordinary adult citizenship grant. Pay only the fee listed for resuming citizenship when filing Form CIT 0301.

IRCC requires the fee to be paid online. For the paper resumption application, print the official payment receipt and include it with the application. The processing fee is non-refundable once IRCC starts processing the application, regardless of the final decision.

Can you apply to resume citizenship online?

The standard resumption application is submitted on paper, not through the regular online citizenship application system. Although the application fee must be paid online and application status can later be checked online, IRCC instructs applicants to mail the completed Form CIT 0301 package and supporting documents to its Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

The current mailing address is: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Case Processing Centre – Sydney, Resumption, P.O. Box 10000, Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 7C1.

IRCC recommends using a postal or courier service that provides a tracking number so you have proof that the package was delivered.

How soon after signing must IRCC receive your application?

Do not prepare and sign the application months before mailing it. IRCC states that it will return the application if it is signed more than three months before IRCC receives it. An application dated in the future will also be returned.

Before mailing, check that every required question is answered, all supporting documents and photos are included and the payment receipt is attached. IRCC warns that incomplete applications may be returned or delayed.

What happens after you apply?

The Case Processing Centre in Sydney reviews the application and begins processing it. IRCC may ask for additional information or documents if the file requires further verification, and some applicants may be asked to attend an interview with a citizenship officer.

You can check the status of the application online once IRCC has received it and completed its initial review. If your address, email address or telephone number changes while the application is being processed, you must tell IRCC. Helpydo also explains how to update your address, email or phone number on an active IRCC application.

IRCC does not publish a fixed service standard for citizenship resumption. Its official resumption page directs applicants to the current processing-times tool because processing varies according to factors such as application completeness, verification needs and how quickly applicants respond to requests.

When do you become a Canadian citizen again?

If IRCC approves your application, it will provide instructions for the citizenship ceremony and, where applicable, taking the Oath of Citizenship. You must continue to meet the eligibility requirements for resumption until the oath is taken.

After completing the required oath process, you receive a Canadian citizenship certificate. Depending on the certificate format selected and the ceremony arrangements, IRCC may provide a paper certificate or an electronic citizenship certificate.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying for resumption without first checking whether you are already a Canadian citizen.
• Using Form CIT 0301 after citizenship was revoked rather than lost through another mechanism.
• Applying before completing the required 365 days of physical presence as a permanent resident, unless a qualifying Canadian Armed Forces exception applies.
• Failing to include proof that you were previously Canadian and proof of how that citizenship ended.
• Submitting only one identification document or failing to provide photo identification.
• Leaving out the two required citizenship photographs.
• Using a family member to translate documents.
• Paying the wrong citizenship fee or forgetting to include the payment receipt.
• Signing the application more than three months before IRCC receives it.
• Failing to return a Canadian citizenship certificate that remains in your possession.

Can you request urgent processing?

IRCC can consider urgent processing for citizenship resumption in special cases. You must still meet all the normal eligibility requirements for resuming citizenship, and IRCC reviews each urgent request to determine whether it qualifies. If the request does not meet the urgent-processing conditions, the application continues under normal processing.