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Documentation Guide

What you need for each generation in your chain of descent. The onus is on the applicant to prove eligibility — IRCC will not investigate weak claims.

Universal Requirements (all applicants)

  • Completed CIT 0001 form (signed and dated after printing)
  • Two identical citizenship photos (paper) or one digital photo (online)
  • Two pieces of valid personal ID (both showing name and DOB; one with photo). Accepted: driver's license, passport, age of majority card, health insurance card. Not accepted: birth certificates, SIN cards, bank/credit cards.
  • Proof of $75 CAD fee payment
  • CIT 0014 document checklist (paper applications)

By Generation

G0 — Canadian Ancestor (born/naturalized in Canada)

  • Canadian birth certificate from provincial/territorial vital statistics, OR
  • Canadian citizenship certificate or naturalization certificate
  • If unavailable: old passports, voting records, census records, employment history

G1 — First Generation Born Abroad

  • Long-form birth certificate showing the Canadian parent's name
  • Marriage certificate (if name changed)
  • G0 parent's proof of Canadian citizenship

G2 — Second Generation Born Abroad

  • Long-form birth certificate showing parent's name
  • Parent's (G1) birth certificate showing the grandparent
  • Marriage/name change certificates connecting names across documents
  • Grandparent's (G0) Canadian birth/citizenship certificate

G3+ — Further Generations

  • Birth certificates for every generation in the chain
  • Marriage/name change records for every generation
  • Cover letter or family tree diagram mapping the entire lineage
  • If any parent was born abroad on/after December 15, 2025: CIT 0555 form (physical presence calculation)

Important Tips

  • Names, dates, and places must align consistently across all documents.
  • Documents not in English or French require certified translations with an affidavit from the translator. French-language documents do not require translation.
  • Quebec documents issued before January 1, 1994 are NOT accepted — obtain replacement certificates from the Directeur de l'état civil du Québec.
  • If records are missing, submit a written explanation of your efforts plus supporting proof (emails, letters, official responses).
  • Baptismal records may serve as secondary evidence when civil birth certificates are unavailable.