How to Apply for Canadian Citizenship by Descent (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)

If you have Canadian ancestry and want to claim your citizenship by descent under Bill C-3, here is exactly how to do it. This guide walks you through every step from checking your eligibility to receiving your citizenship certificate.

Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility

Before you start gathering documents, confirm that you qualify. Under Bill C-3, which came into effect on December 15, 2025, there is no generational limit on citizenship by descent for people born before that date. This means if your parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, or even earlier ancestor was born in Canada, you may already be a Canadian citizen.

The key requirements are:

• At least one ancestor in your direct line was born in Canada or was a naturalized Canadian citizen
• There is an unbroken chain of descent from that ancestor to you
• Each person in the chain was alive at some point after January 1, 1947 (when the first Canadian Citizenship Act took effect)

You can check your eligibility for free at MaplePass in under 2 minutes.

Step 2: Map Your Ancestry Chain

Your ancestry chain is the line of descent connecting you to your Canadian ancestor. For example:

• Simple case: Your mother was born in Toronto. Chain: Mother (born in Canada) > You.
• Two generations: Your grandfather was born in Montreal. Chain: Grandfather (born in Canada) > Your parent > You.
• Three generations: Your great-grandmother was born in Halifax. Chain: Great-grandmother > Grandparent > Parent > You.

Write down every person in this chain. You will need a birth certificate for each person, plus marriage certificates to document any name changes.

Step 3: Gather Your Documents

For each person in your ancestry chain, you will need:

Birth certificates showing parentage and birthplace. For Canadian-born ancestors, order these from the relevant provincial vital statistics office. For US-born family members, order from the state vital records office.

Marriage certificates to connect maiden and married names. This is especially important for ancestors who changed their last name upon marriage.

Additional supporting documents if names were anglicized or changed informally. Census records, church records, and death certificates can help establish identity.

Provincial birth certificates typically take 4-8 weeks to arrive. Start ordering these as early as possible.

Step 4: Complete the CIT 0001 Form

The CIT 0001 is the official "Application for a Citizenship Certificate" form from IRCC. Key sections include:

• Section 1: Your personal information (name, date of birth, address)
• Section 2: Information about your Canadian parent or ancestor
• Section 3: Your lineage, listing each person in the chain from your Canadian ancestor to you
• Section 4: Declaration and signature

You must also include two citizenship photos that meet IRCC specifications (similar to passport photos).

MaplePass provides an AI-guided form builder that walks you through every field and generates a complete, ready-to-submit application package.

Step 5: Pay the Fee

The government fee for a proof of citizenship application is $75 CAD. Payment is made by credit card, debit card, or certified cheque payable to the Receiver General for Canada.

Step 6: Submit Your Application

Mail your completed application to IRCC at the address specified on the CIT 0001 form. Include:

• The completed CIT 0001 form
• Your supporting documents (originals or certified copies)
• Two citizenship photos
• Proof of fee payment

Use tracked mail so you can confirm delivery.

Step 7: Wait for Processing

After IRCC receives your application, you will get an acknowledgment of receipt with a unique application number. Processing currently takes approximately 11 months. During this time, IRCC may contact you for additional information or documents.

Step 8: Receive Your Citizenship Certificate

Once approved, IRCC will mail your Canadian citizenship certificate to you. This document is your official proof of Canadian citizenship. With it, you can apply for a Canadian passport, enter Canada as a citizen, and exercise all rights of Canadian citizenship.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Missing documents: The number one cause of delays. Double-check that you have certificates for every person in your chain.
• Name discrepancies: If names don't match exactly across documents, include supporting records that explain the connection.
• Poor photo quality: Follow IRCC's photo specifications exactly. Many pharmacies offer citizenship photo services.
• Sending originals without copies: Keep copies of everything you send. If originals are lost in the mail, you will need replacements.