Child Citizenship Application

If your child is a permanent resident under 18, they can apply for Canadian citizenship for a $100 fee, with no citizenship test and no language requirement. Which application they use depends on one question: does the child have a Canadian parent, or a parent applying for citizenship at the same time?

• Yes → the child applies under subsection 5(2) of the Citizenship Act (form CIT 0003).
• No → the child applies under subsection 5(1) (form CIT 0403), and must meet the physical presence requirement.

IRCC now recommends applying online for most families. A parent can add their children to their own online account and submit everyone together. Paper applications are still accepted but take longer to start processing.

This page explains which stream fits your child, what each one requires, the documents to gather, and what happens after you apply. For a question-by-question walkthrough of each form, see our form guides at the bottom of the page.

Minor 5(2) vs. Minor 5(1) at a glance

	Minor 5(2)	Minor 5(1)
Who it’s for	Child has a Canadian parent, or a parent applying for citizenship at the same time	Child has no Canadian parent and no parent applying at the same time
Paper form	CIT 0003 (checklist CIT 0008)	CIT 0403 (checklist CIT 0560)
Fee	$100	$100
Must be a permanent resident	Yes	Yes
Physical presence (1,095 days in 5 years)	No	Yes
Income tax filing	No	Yes, for any year the child was required to file
Language proof / citizenship test	No	No
Oath of citizenship	Ages 14–17	Ages 14–17
Who applies and signs	Parent (biological or adoptive) or legal guardian; child also signs if 14–17	Person with custody or legal authority to act for the child; child also signs if 14–17. Child may apply alone with a waiver
Apply online	Yes	Yes

Not sure which column fits? The deciding question is the parent’s status on the day you apply, not the child’s country of birth.

First check: is your child already Canadian?

A child born outside Canada to a Canadian parent may already be a citizen by descent. If so, don’t apply for a grant of citizenship. Apply for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship) instead.

The rules on citizenship by descent changed on December 15, 2025, when Bill C-3 came into force:

• Born or adopted abroad before December 15, 2025: the old “first-generation limit” no longer applies. A child who would have been Canadian but for that limit is now considered a citizen and can apply for proof of citizenship.
• Born or adopted abroad on or after December 15, 2025: citizenship can pass beyond the first generation born abroad, but only if the Canadian parent who was themselves born abroad shows a substantial connection to Canada.

IRCC’s “Am I a Canadian citizen?” tool is a good starting point. Cases involving grandparents or adoption abroad are often complex, so get advice before you file.

The applications on this page are for children who are permanent residents of Canada and are not already citizens.

Minor 5(2): child with a Canadian parent

This is the most common route for families. It has no physical presence or tax requirement.

Your child is eligible under 5(2) if they:

• are under 18 on the day the application is signed
• are a permanent resident, with no removal order and no unfulfilled conditions on their PR status
• have at least one parent (biological or adoptive) who is a Canadian citizen, or who is applying for citizenship at the same time
• are not under a prohibition (most prohibitions relate to criminal or security matters)

Who can apply for the child: a parent (biological or adoptive) or a legal guardian. A legal guardian who isn’t a citizen can file on the child’s behalf, but citizenship can only be granted under 5(2) if one of the child’s parents is a citizen.

Step-parents: a step-parent’s citizenship doesn’t make a child eligible under 5(2) unless the step-parent has legally adopted the child. Otherwise, the child applies under 5(1).

Applying as a family: if you’re an adult becoming a citizen at the same time, apply together. Online, you add your children to your own account and one adult submits the whole group. On paper, put every application and receipt in the same envelope so they’re processed together.

Adopted children: a legally adopted child who is a permanent resident applies under 5(2). A child adopted abroad who is not a permanent resident may instead qualify for a direct grant of citizenship for adopted children.

Minor 5(1): child without a Canadian parent

This route is for a permanent resident child whose parents are not citizens and are not applying at the same time. For example, a child living with a non-citizen guardian, or a child whose parents don’t yet qualify.

Your child is eligible under 5(1) if they:

• are under 18 on the day the application is signed
• are a permanent resident, with no removal order and no unfulfilled conditions
• meet the physical presence requirement (below)
• filed income taxes for any year they were required to under the Income Tax Act (see the CRA’s guidance for newcomers)
• are not under a prohibition

Physical presence

The child must have been physically in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the 5 years before the application is signed, including at least 730 days as a permanent resident.

• Days in Canada as a temporary resident (visitor, student, worker) or protected person before becoming a PR count as half days, up to a maximum credit of 365 days.
• Use IRCC’s physical presence calculator and include the printout. The application date on the printout must match the date you sign the application.
• Apply with a buffer above 1,095 days. An application filed even one day short is returned, and you’ll have to reapply later.

Who can apply for the child

Any person who has custody of the child, or is legally empowered to act on their behalf, can apply. They don’t need to be a Canadian citizen.

If no one can apply for the child, the child can apply on their own. They check the waiver box in the signature section (online or on paper) to request permission to apply alone. IRCC decides whether to accept the request and may ask for supporting evidence. If it’s refused, processing stops until an eligible person can apply for the child.

Documents you’ll need

Most documents are the same for both streams. If you apply online, the account lists exactly what to upload, so follow its instructions. The table below reflects IRCC’s paper checklists (5(2), 5(1)).

Document	5(2)	5(1)	Notes
Document checklist	CIT 0008	CIT 0560	Paper applications only
Application form	CIT 0003	CIT 0403	Use the current version; validate it to generate the barcode page
Passport / travel document identity pages	Yes	Yes	Colour copies for every passport held during the 5-year eligibility period (or since becoming a PR), plus any extension pages
2 pieces of ID	Yes	Yes	Both must show name and date of birth; one must have a photo. If one is the PR card, the other must be issued by a Canadian government (e.g., a provincial health card)
2 citizenship photos	Yes	Yes	Identical, printed in colour, meeting IRCC’s photo specifications
Birth certificate or adoption order naming the parents	Yes	—	Must show the child’s name, date and place of birth, and parents’ names
Proof of the parent’s citizenship	If a Canadian parent applies	—	e.g., Canadian birth certificate, citizenship certificate, certificate of naturalization, registration of birth abroad
Proof of your relationship / custody	Guardians: proof of guardianship	Yes	5(1): birth certificate naming you, adoption order, court custody document or order of permanent guardianship
Physical presence calculator printout	—	Yes	Application date must match the signing date; no signature needed on the printout
Official education records	—	Yes	Report cards, transcripts or attendance records. Letters from schools and student ID cards aren’t accepted
Fee receipt ($100)	Yes	Yes	Pay online; print the receipt for paper applications
Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)	If applicable	If applicable	Required if you use a paid or unpaid representative
Name change, date of birth or gender identifier documents	If applicable	If applicable	Only if the certificate should differ from the immigration record
Oath waiver documents	If applicable	If applicable	Ages 14–17 who can’t take the oath (e.g., disability)
Certified translations	If applicable	If applicable	Any document not in English or French

Don’t send fingerprints or court documents with the application. IRCC will ask for them separately if it needs them.

How to apply

IRCC recommends applying online. Built-in checks catch errors before you submit, and you get a confirmation email right away.

Online (recommended)

1. The parent or legal guardian signs in to (or creates) an IRCC online citizenship account.
2. In the account, create an application for each child, choosing 5(2) or 5(1). One account can hold up to 20 minors, and each child can be attached to only one adult’s account.
3. Fill in the application and upload the documents the account asks for.
4. Pay the $100 fee per child and upload the receipt.
5. Sign and date the child’s application. A child aged 14–17 signs too.
6. Submit. If you’re applying as a family, one adult submits all the applications together.

If you’re working with a representative online, you must still create your own account and submit the application yourself. The representative can help you answer the questions.

On paper

You must apply on paper if:

• the physical presence calculation includes time abroad with a parent who is a Crown servant (Canadian Armed Forces or federal, provincial or territorial public service), or
• you want your representative to complete and submit the application for you.

Anyone else can still choose paper, but it takes longer to start processing. Mail the application within 90 days of signing it, or it will be returned.

Regular mail: Case Processing Centre – Sydney, Citizenship Grants, P.O. Box 7000, Sydney, NS B1P 6V6

Courier: IRCC Digitization Centre – Citizenship, 3050 Wilson Ave, New Waterford, NS B1H 5V8

Use a service with a tracking number. IRCC doesn’t confirm receipt of paper applications until it sends the acknowledgement of receipt.

About the fee

The fee is $100 per child, for both streams. There’s no right of citizenship fee for minors. If a minor’s application is refused, the fee isn’t refunded. If you withdraw before IRCC starts processing, the full amount is refunded.

What happens after you apply

1. Completeness check. Online applicants get a confirmation email right away. IRCC then checks that nothing is missing. An incomplete application is returned, and the fee isn’t processed. For 5(1), you’ll recalculate physical presence and re-sign before resubmitting.
2. Acknowledgement of receipt (AOR). Once the file is complete, IRCC sends an AOR with the application number and the child’s UCI. You can check the application status online only after you receive it.
3. Background checks. IRCC checks with the RCMP and CSIS and verifies the child’s immigration status. It may ask for fingerprints, court documents or an interview. If you’re called to an interview, both you and the child attend.
4. Decision and citizenship.
   • Under 14: no oath is required. The certificate is generally sent to you, though you can ask on the form for the child to take part in a ceremony.
   • 14 to 17: the child is invited to a citizenship ceremony and takes the oath of citizenship, unless an oath waiver was approved.

On the form you choose a paper or electronic citizenship certificate. An e-certificate requires an email address on the application.

While the application is in process, tell IRCC right away if your address changes. Canada Post’s mail forwarding doesn’t forward parcels, and a returned application package is not processed. Also tell IRCC if you plan to leave Canada for more than two weeks in a row.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying for a grant when the child is already Canadian. A child born abroad to a Canadian parent may need a citizenship certificate instead, especially after Bill C-3.
• Choosing the wrong stream. A step-parent’s or guardian’s citizenship doesn’t qualify the child for 5(2) unless there’s a legal adoption.
• Applying under 5(1) too early. If the child is short of 1,095 days, the application is returned. Leave a buffer.
• Mismatched dates. The signing date must match the application date on the physical presence printout, and a paper application must arrive within 90 days of signing.
• Gaps in the address or activity history. The 5(1) form asks for every address and every activity (usually school) over the eligibility period. Gaps get the application returned.
• Forgetting the child’s signature. Children aged 14–17 must sign their own application.
• Missing passports. Include every passport the child held during the eligibility period, not just the current one. Explain any period without a passport on the form.
• Not validating the PDF. A paper form without its barcode page can be returned.
• Using an old form or link. Download the current form from IRCC each time, or apply online.

Form guides

• How to Complete Form CIT 0003 (Minor 5(2)) — coming soon; link when published
• How to Complete Form CIT 0403 (Minor 5(1)) — coming soon; link when published
• Adult Canadian Citizenship Application, if you’re applying alongside your child

This guide is for general informational purposes and isn’t a substitute for advice from a licensed immigration professional. For the current official forms and instructions, refer to IRCC’s website.