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Canadian Citizenship - FAQ
- Can I use a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (CCC) instead of a Canadian passport to travel abroad?
- What travel documents do Canadian citizens need to go abroad?
- Where can I get information about Canadian citizenship?
- How can I find out if I am a Canadian citizen?
- How can I obtain a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (CCC)?
1. Can I use a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (CCC) instead of a Canadian passport to travel abroad?
No, you cannot. A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship is not a travel document. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel. Canadian citizens returning to Canada who present other documents, such as a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, birth certificate, provincial driver’s license, or foreign passport, instead of a Canadian passport, may face delays or be denied boarding by transport companies.
2. What travel documents do Canadian citizens need to go abroad?
See our FAQs on Travel Documentation, including Passports and Visas. You may also consult our information our fact sheet entitled Travel Documentation for Canadians.
3. Where can I get information about Canadian citizenship?
For all matters relating to Canadian citizenship, consult Citizenship and Immigration Canada. If you are in Canada, contact a Citizenship and Immigration Call Centre. If you are outside Canada, contact the nearest Canadian government office abroad.
4. How can I find out if I am a Canadian citizen?
If you were born in Canada, you are probably a Canadian citizen. If you were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent, you may also be a Canadian citizen. To determine if you are a Canadian or if you require proof of Canadian citizenship, you may apply for a citizenship certificate.
Note: A person born after February 14, 1977, outside Canada to a Canadian parent who was also born outside Canada to a Canadian parent may need to take steps to retain Canadian citizenship. You need to take these steps before you turn 28 years old. If you do not take these steps, you could lose your Canadian citizenship, whether you are living in Canada or abroad. Further information is available from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
Since February 15, 1977, Canadians have been able to remain or become citizens of another country and still be recognized as Canadian citizens. Additional details are available on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.
5. How can I obtain a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship?
Any Canadian citizen can apply for a citizenship certificate. New Canadians get a certificate when they become citizens. If you automatically acquired citizenship because you were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent, you can apply for a citizenship certificate. If you automatically acquired citizenship in another way (e.g., you were born in Canada or you are a woman who came to Canada before 1947 as a war bride), you can apply for a citizenship certificate.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada provides an on-line Application for a Citizenship Certificate. Information on the necessary procedures can be obtained from the nearest Canadian government office abroad. For further information on Canadian citizenship, consult Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
