Grant of Citizenship vs. Proof of Citizenship
As a cross-border immigration lawyer based in Windsor, Ontario, Christina Loebach helps individuals with many different immigration needs. A popular service that clients seek guidance and assistance with is applying for Canadian citizenship. This blog post considers the difference between applying for a grant of citizenship, versus applying for proof of Canadian citizenship.
The main difference between these concepts is the application’s function. A grant of Canadian citizenship makes a person a citizen for the first time, effective the date of the approval. Proof of Canadian citizenship (a citizenship certificate) is an application submitted to prove that a citizenship status already exists.
Grant of Citizenship
A grant of Canadian citizenship application is used by permanent residents who wish to become Canadian citizens, after meeting the eligibility requirements. For an adult applicant, this includes:
Already be a permanent resident of Canada;
Meet the physical presence requirement of at least 1,095 days (3 years) during your 5-year eligibility period;
Have filed income tax returns in Canada, if needed, for at least 3 years during the 5-year eligibility period;
Demonstrate adequate knowledge of English or French, if between the ages of 18 to 54;
Pass the citizenship test, if between the ages of 18 to 54;
Take the oath of citizenship; and
Not be under a prohibition, which generally relates to criminal or security reasons.
This type of citizenship application requires the applicant to submit specific forms (CIT0002 and CIT0007), the completed Physical Presence Calculator, proof of language skills (if between the relevant ages), and to pass the citizenship test. There is a formal citizenship ceremony, often held online, following which the applicant successfully becomes a citizen.
Proof of Citizenship
By contrast, the proof of citizenship application is used for individuals who wish to obtain a citizenship certificate as proof of their citizenship status in Canada. This process can be used by citizens who may have lost or destroyed their previous certificates, but is more commonly used by those who wish to claim Canadian citizenship by descent. Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act, came into effect on December 15, 2025. This legislative amendment dramatically changed how Canadian citizenship can be passed down for persons born outside of Canada. It removed the strict first-generation limit that previously precluded Canadian citizens born abroad from passing on citizenship automatically to their children also born outside of Canada. As a result, many individuals who were previously excluded from citizenship became Canadian citizens by operation of law.
Proof of citizenship applications require thorough supporting documentation for each member in the familial chain, including the Canadian-born ancestor that the applicant wishes to claim through. Unlike with grant applications, there is no formal citizenship ceremony once the application is approved. This is because the citizenship certificate issued is retroactively dated to the applicant’s date of birth.
If you would like Christina to provide legal advice on applying for a grant of Canadian citizenship or proof of Canadian citizenship, please schedule a consultation.