Factors that can complicate your citizenship application, and how to deal with them
If you’re a permanent resident applying for Canadian citizenship, you can take action to avoid potential pitfalls in your application, which might result in delays.Citizenship applications can be quite involved, and it’s easy to make mistakes that might result in delays.
This article will go over common reasons that citizenship applications can become complicated, and present actions you can take to reduce the likelihood that your application will be delayed.
Factors that can complicate your citizenship application
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) refers to applications that are complicated in nature as “complex” or “non-routine”.
As of this writing, eights months is the current processing time for regular applications for citizenship grants. But non-routine applications can take significantly longer. IRCC currently holds a backlog of 42,700 applications for citizenship grants, as of the latest available data.
The immigration department has identified three common reasons that citizenship applications can become complex:
- The department requires you to submit extra documentation in support of your citizenship application;
- You miss a citizenship test, interview, or hearing; and/or
- IRCC identifies a potential criminal, security, or other admissibility concern.
Each of these points is discussed in further detail below.
IRCC requires further documentation in support of your application
These situations arise when the immigration department feels that it does not have all the needed documentation within your citizenship application to decide your eligibility for citizenship, and/or inadmissibility factors.
Inadmissibility can arise from a number of factors; misrepresentation and serious criminality are common reasons. These are discussed in further detail below.
To avoid delays in your application that result from IRCC requiring more documentation, you should include all relevant documentation for your case in the initial submission of the citizenship application. This includes possible document alternatives that may be required, as well as any supporting documentation to this effect.
The following table details the categories of documents that must be included with every citizenship application, and acceptable documentation for each:
| Category of Document | Accepted Documentation |
|---|---|
| Citizenship Application Form | Application for Canadian citizenship (CIT 002). |
| Physical Presence Calculation | Printout of online physical presence calculator results OR the How to Calculate Physical Presence form (CIT 0407). |
| Passport or Travel Document | Color copies of all pages in your passport (or equivalent travel document) covering the last five years preceding your application. |
| Explanation for Missing Travel Document | If you do not have a travel document or passport, you must provide an explanation within the citizenship application form. |
| Proof of Language Ability (CLB 4 or higher) | Photocopy of one of the following:
– IRCC-approved third-party language test results; – Diploma, certificate, or transcript from post-secondary studies in English or French; or – Proof of achieving CLB 4 through a government-funded program. |
| Additional Language Documents (if applicable) | Other documents may also be submitted to support this language requirement. |
| Personal Identification | Photocopies of two personal ID documents that show your name, photo, and date of birth. These can be:
– A copy of the biographical page on your passport/travel document*; – Permanent Resident (PR) Card**; – Driver’s license; – Health insurance card; – Senior citizen identification card; – Age of majority card; and/or – Foreign identity documents issued by a foreign government for purposes of identification. |
| Two identical citizenship photos | Photo size: 50 mm x 70 mm (2 in x 2¾ inches); face height must be 31–36 mm (1¼ – 1⁷⁄₁₆ inches) from chin to crown.
Image quality: Photo must be clear, sharp, unaltered, with even lighting, no shadows or glare, natural skin tones, and good contrast with the background. |
| Fee receipt | Application fees must be paid online, and the receipt from IRCC must subsequently be included in online or paper applications. |
| The document checklist | Citizenship application document checklist (CIT 0007). |
*The biographical page of your passport may be used to fulfill both passport and ID requirements.
**PR Cards may only be used to fulfill the ID requirement if the second piece of identification used is also issued by the Canadian government.
In addition to the above, applicants may need to submit the following documentation if relevant to their situation:
| Category of Document | Reason for documentation | Accepted Documentation |
|---|---|---|
| Use of a representative form | Applicants must declare that they are using a representative, or risk misrepresentation. | Use of representative form (IMM 5476). |
| Police certificates or clearances | For security purposes, must be given for any country where you spent 183 days (or more) in a row aged 18 years or older, for the four years immediately before your application. | Original police certificates from the relevant authorities in the country of your residence. |
| Legal name change documents | For purposes of corroborating name changes, and ensuring documentation is consistent to the application. | If you changed your name legally in Canada:
– Legal change of name document; – Court order; OR – Adoption order Accepted documents (family name changes only): – Marriage certificate; – Divorce decree; OR – Civil registration/declaration or revocation/annulment of union – Common-law relationship registration (where provincial law allows name change). Different documentation is acceptable for applicants who changed their name outside Canada. |
| Correction of a date of birth for a PR or Citizenship document | Correct any discrepancies regarding date of birth for the applicant’s citizenship certificate. | Request to correct a date of birth for a Permanent Resident Document or Citizenship Certificate form (IRM (003). |
| Correction of Sex or Gender Identifier | Correct any discrepancies regarding stated Sex or Gender identifiers for the applicant’s citizenship certificate. | Request for a change of sex or gender identifier form (IRM 002). |
| Residence outside Canada as a Crown Servant or with a Crown Servant family member | To disclose employment as a crown servant* (or with a crown servant spouse, common-law partner, or parent) while residing outside of Canada. | Residence outside Canada form (CIT 0177).
Applicants under the age of 18 at the time of application are not required to submit this form. |
| Guardianship documents | To disclose a legal guardian whom IRCC will correspond with for applicants who are minors. | – Power of attorney; – Judicial court orders; Affidavits; OR – Other official documentation proving guardianship |
*Crown servants are individuals employed in or with
- The Canadian armed forces;
- The federal public administration of Canada; or
- The public service of a Canadian province or territory.
For documents not in English or French, you must provide
- A translation in English or French; and
- An affidavit from the translator (if not a certified translator).
Translations must be completed by:
- A Canadian certified translator (member of a provincial/territorial translators’ association); or
- Another individual fluent individual in both languages.
If not certified, an affidavit from the translator is required to confirm language proficiency and translation accuracy.
In addition to the above, if you are between the ages of 18 and 54 and are unable to meet specific citizenship requirements due to compassionate reasons—such as being unable to fulfill the language requirements or demonstrate adequate knowledge of the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship by taking the citizenship test—you may request a waiver. You must provide supporting evidence.
If you are 14 years of age or older and cannot understand the meaning of taking the Oath of Citizenship due to a mental disability, you may also request a waiver. Supporting evidence is required.
To apply for one or more of these waivers, you must include the following:
| Category of Document | Reason for Documentation | Accepted Documentation |
|---|---|---|
| Waiver Request | Applying for a waiver of language and/or knowledge requirements. | Waiver Request Form (CIT 0116). |
| Corroborating Medical Opinion | Supporting documentation for those applying for a waiver of language/knowledge or the oath due to a medical condition. | Medical Opinion Form for Citizenship Waivers (CIT 0547). |
| Other supporting documents for waivers | Additional documentation to support your waiver request (e.g., test results, affidavits). | Any relevant supporting documents; note that submission does not guarantee approval — each request is case-specific. |
