Complete Document Checklist for Canadian Citizenship by Descent
Everything you need to gather before submitting your CIT 0001 application. This guide covers required documents, where to order them, how to prove your ancestry chain, and how to handle common problems like missing records and name discrepancies.
Required Documents for Every Application
Regardless of your specific situation, every CIT 0001 application must include these five items. Missing any one of them will result in your application being returned as incomplete.
Completed CIT 0001 Application Form
The official IRCC form for applying for a citizenship certificate to prove Canadian citizenship. Every field must be filled out completely and accurately. Leave nothing blank — write "N/A" if a field does not apply to you. Sign and date the form in ink.
Read our CIT 0001 step-by-step guideYour Birth Certificate (Long-Form)
You must submit a long-form birth certificate that includes both of your parents' full names. A short-form or wallet-size certificate that only shows your name and date of birth is not sufficient. If you were born in the US, order from your state's vital records office. If born in another country, obtain the equivalent document from that country's civil registry.
Government-Issued Photo ID
A current, valid, government-issued photo identification document. This can be a passport, driver's license, or state/provincial ID card. The name on your ID must match the name on your application. If your name has changed (through marriage, for example), include your name change documentation as well.
Two Canadian Citizenship Photos
Two identical photos taken within the last 6 months, measuring 35mm wide by 45mm tall. Photos must meet Canadian citizenship photo specifications: white or light-coloured background, neutral expression, face clearly visible, no glasses. Have a professional photographer take them — most pharmacies and shipping stores offer Canadian passport/citizenship photo services. Write your full name and date of birth on the back of each photo.
$75 CAD Processing Fee Payment
The fee for a citizenship certificate is $75 CAD. Pay online through the IRCC website and include the printed receipt with your application. If you are applying for multiple family members, each person needs a separate application and separate fee payment. The fee is non-refundable, even if your application is denied.
Ancestry Chain Documents
The core of your application is proving an unbroken chain of parentage from you to a Canadian citizen ancestor. For each person in that chain, you need documents that prove the parent-child relationship, connecting one generation to the next.
For Each Person in the Chain, You Need:
- Birth certificate showing both parents' names. This is the primary document that proves the parent-child link. It must be a long-form certificate — a short-form will not include parents' names.
- Marriage certificate if any name changed between a person's birth certificate and their child's birth certificate. For example, if your mother's maiden name is on her birth certificate but your birth certificate lists her married name, you need her marriage certificate to connect the two.
- For your Canadian ancestor specifically: proof that they were born in Canada (a Canadian birth certificate) OR proof of Canadian citizenship or naturalization. This is the anchor of your entire chain. If they were born in Canada, their Canadian birth certificate is the strongest evidence.
Example: Ancestry Chain Through a Canadian Grandparent
You (The Applicant)
Your birth certificate + photo ID + citizenship photos
Your Parent
Their birth certificate (showing your grandparent as parent) + marriage certificate (if name changed)
Your Grandparent
Their birth certificate (showing your great-grandparent as parent) + marriage certificate (if name changed)
Canadian Ancestor
Canadian birth certificate OR proof of Canadian citizenship/naturalization
The chain may be shorter (parent born in Canada) or longer (great-grandparent). Under Bill C-3, the first generation born outside Canada can claim citizenship. The key is an unbroken line of birth certificates linking you to the Canadian ancestor.
Supporting Documents That Strengthen Your Case
These documents are not strictly required, but they can make the difference between approval and a request for more information. If you have access to any of these, include them. They are especially valuable when primary documents are incomplete or when there are name discrepancies.
Census Records
Canadian census records (available 1825-1921) show household members, their relationships, ages, birthplaces, and occupations. They can confirm family relationships and place of residence. Search for free at FamilySearch.org or Automated Genealogy.
Death Certificates
A death certificate often lists the deceased's birthplace, parents' names, and spouse's name. This can confirm identity when other records are inconsistent. Particularly useful for connecting older generations where birth registration was less reliable.
Immigration & Emigration Records
Ship passenger lists, border crossing records, and immigration cards can show when your ancestor left Canada and where they settled. These records often include age, birthplace, and family members traveling together. Search at Library and Archives Canada.
Baptismal & Church Records
Before civil registration became standard, churches were the primary record keepers. Catholic parish records in Quebec date back to the 1600s and often serve as de facto birth records. A baptismal certificate can substitute for a birth certificate if no civil record exists. Search the Drouin Collection for Quebec parish records.
Property Deeds & Court Records
Land grants, property transfers, and court documents can establish a person's presence in a specific location and sometimes reference family relationships. Notarial records in Quebec are particularly rich sources of family information, as notaries recorded marriages, wills, property sales, and other transactions.
Name Change Evidence
Anglicized names are extremely common among Canadian immigrants and their descendants. Pierre became Peter, Guillaume became William, Marguerite became Margaret. If names differ between documents, include any formal name change records, or write a brief explanation letter documenting the variation and how you know it refers to the same person.
Where to Order Documents
Order certificates as early as possible. Provincial offices can take weeks or months to process requests, especially for historical records. Order everything simultaneously to avoid months of sequential waiting.
Canadian Provincial Vital Statistics
Birth, marriage, and death certificates are issued by the province or territory where the event occurred — not where the person lived. If your grandmother was born in Quebec but lived in Ontario, you need to order from Quebec. Each province has its own vital statistics office, fees, and processing times.
View all provincial offices, fees & order linksUS Birth Certificates
If you were born in the United States, order your birth certificate from the vital records office in the state where you were born. Most states offer online ordering. Make sure you request the long-form version that includes your parents' full names.
CDC — Find your state's vital records officeApostille Not Required
A common misconception: IRCC does not require an apostille or authentication for Canadian or US documents. Simply submit certified true copies. Do not waste time or money getting apostilles from the US State Department or Canadian Global Affairs. This applies to birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other vital records from Canada and the United States.
Long-Form vs Short-Form Birth Certificates
This is the single most common mistake people make. If you submit a short-form certificate, your application will be sent back and you will have wasted months of processing time.
Long-Form Birth Certificate
- Shows both parents' full names
- Includes place of birth (city, province/state)
- Shows date and time of birth
- Registration number and date of registration
- Sometimes called "large" or "detailed" certificate
Short-Form Birth Certificate
- ×Does NOT include parents' names
- ×Only shows your name and date of birth
- ×Wallet-size or credit card format
- ×Cannot prove parentage
- ×Application will be returned if submitted
When ordering from any provincial or state vital records office, explicitly request the long-form birth certificate. Some provinces call it a "certified copy of registration of birth" or "detailed birth certificate." If ordering online, look for the option that costs more and includes parental information. When in doubt, call the office and confirm you are ordering the version that includes parents' names.
Common Document Problems & Solutions
Almost every citizenship by descent application hits at least one of these roadblocks. Here is how to handle the most common ones.
1. Birth Record Cannot Be Found
This is particularly common for ancestors born before the late 1800s, when civil registration was not universal in Canada. Many records were also lost to fires — Quebec City and Montreal both lost significant numbers of records in historical fires.
What to do:
- • Request a "no record found" letter from the provincial vital statistics office
- • Search church/parish baptismal registers (these often predate civil registration)
- • Check Canadian census records (1825, 1831, 1842, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911, 1921)
- • Look for the person in notarial records, especially marriage contracts
- • Check Library and Archives Canada immigration records
- • Submit a statutory declaration explaining the situation and listing all alternative evidence provided
2. Name Discrepancies Between Documents
Names on historical documents frequently do not match exactly. French-Canadian names were routinely anglicized when families moved to the United States: Jean-Baptiste became John, Pierre became Peter, Francoise became Frances, Tremblay might become Trembley or Tremblee. Spelling was also less standardized — census takers wrote what they heard, and officials often recorded names phonetically.
What to do:
- • Write a cover letter explaining each name variation and how you know the documents refer to the same person
- • Include any formal name change records if they exist
- • Provide multiple documents showing the same person under different name spellings (census records are excellent for this)
- • Reference birth dates, locations, and family members to establish continuity of identity
3. Documents in Languages Other Than English or French
IRCC accepts documents in English and French without translation. If your documents are in any other language — for example, if you have a birth certificate from Germany, Italy, or another country — you must submit a certified translation along with a copy of the original.
What to do:
- • Hire a certified translator (must be a member of a recognized translation body)
- • The translation must include the translator's certification, their name and contact information, and a statement that the translation is accurate
- • Submit both the certified translation and a copy of the original-language document
4. Record Destroyed or Officially Unavailable
Some records genuinely no longer exist. Fires, floods, administrative errors, and the passage of time have all destroyed vital records across Canada and the US. IRCC understands this and has provisions for alternative evidence.
What to do:
- • Obtain an official letter from the relevant vital statistics office confirming the record does not exist or was destroyed
- • Complete a statutory declaration (sworn before a notary or commissioner of oaths) explaining the circumstances
- • Provide as much alternative evidence as possible: church records, census entries, immigration documents, school records, newspaper announcements
- • The more corroborating evidence you include, the stronger your case
5. Adoption in the Ancestry Chain
If there is an adoption anywhere in your ancestry chain, different rules apply. Canadian citizenship law treats adopted children and biological children differently depending on when the adoption occurred and which generation is affected. This is one of the more complex areas of citizenship by descent law.
What to do:
- • Obtain all adoption records you can access (court orders, adoption certificates, amended birth certificates)
- • Contact the adoption registry in the relevant province for access to non-identifying or identifying information
- • Consult with an immigration lawyer — adoption cases often have nuances that are best handled with professional guidance
- • Use the MaplePass eligibility checker to understand how adoption affects your specific situation
Frequently Asked Questions
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