How Can You Be Eligible to Get a Canadian Passport?
If your parent or grandparent was a Canadian citizen, you may already hold citizenship by descent - and with it, the right to a Canadian passport. Here is what you need to know and exactly how to get there.
A Canadian passport does not start with a passport application. It starts with understanding whether you are already a Canadian citizen.
At IPJ Immigration Solutions, the most common question we hear is: can I get a Canadian passport? The answer almost always depends on a prior question - do you have Canadian citizenship? This guide covers eligibility, what documents you need, and the two-step process that applies to everyone claiming citizenship by descent.
Who Is Eligible for a Canadian Passport?
You are eligible if you are a Canadian citizen. There are three ways to hold Canadian citizenship if you were not born in Canada:
Citizenship by Descent - The Short Explanation
If your parent was a Canadian citizen when you were born, you are a Canadian citizen - regardless of where you were born.
Before December 2025, a rule called the first-generation limit (FGL) cut the chain after one generation born abroad. So if your parent was born outside Canada to a Canadian - even if they were a citizen by descent - you were excluded. Bill C-3 permanently removed this limit for everyone born before December 15, 2025.
This means: if your grandparent or great-grandparent was Canadian, and each person in the chain between you and them would have been a citizen but for the FGL, you are now recognized as a Canadian citizen from birth. You do not apply to become a citizen - you apply for the document that proves you already are one.
Proof of Citizenship vs Grant of Citizenship
These are two different applications with different costs and different processes. Knowing which one applies to you is the first practical step.
| Type | Government Fee | Who This Is For |
|---|---|---|
| Proof of citizenship (certificate) | CAD $75 | Citizens by birth or descent - including all Bill C-3 claimants. You already have citizenship. You are asking IRCC to confirm it. |
| Grant of citizenship | CAD $630 | Permanent residents applying after meeting the 1,095-day physical presence requirement. You are asking IRCC to give you citizenship. |
If you are claiming through a parent or grandparent, you are applying for proof - the $75 application. The grant process is separate and does not apply to you.
Step 1: Apply for Your Citizenship Certificate
You cannot apply for a Canadian passport without a citizenship certificate. This step must come first.
Online or paper?
For most citizenship by descent claims - especially multigenerational ones - paper is the safer choice. The online portal was built around the old rules and may not reliably handle complex family histories. When in doubt, apply by paper. It lets you explain your situation fully and include all supporting documents.
What to include
| Document | Required For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application form CIT 0001 | All applicants | Complete in full. No blank fields. |
| Two valid ID documents | All applicants | Name and date of birth. One must include a photo. |
| Passport photos | All applicants | 1 photo for online; 2 identical photos for paper. |
| Birth certificates for every generation in the chain | Descent claims | One per person between you and the original Canadian ancestor. No generation can be skipped. |
| Proof of original Canadian ancestor's citizenship | Descent claims | Canadian birth certificate, naturalization papers, or military records. |
| Marriage certificates where names changed | Where applicable | Required wherever a surname is different across generations. |
| Certified translations for non-English/French documents | Where applicable | Plus a signed affidavit from the translator. |
Fee and processing time
The government fee is CAD $75. Processing time is approximately 9-12 months as of mid-2026, reflecting increased application volumes since Bill C-3 came into force. Urgent processing is available for documented emergencies - request it separately with a letter of explanation. For current times across all programs, see our Canada immigration processing times guide.
After submitting, IRCC issues an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) confirming your file is in the system. Expect minimal visible updates for months while background review happens internally - a static tracker is normal and does not mean your file is stalled.
Step 2: Apply for Your Canadian Passport
Once you hold your citizenship certificate, you can apply for a passport by mail or at any Service Canada location.
Before you apply
- A guarantor: A Canadian citizen who has known you for at least two years. They sign your application form and one of your passport photos.
- Two references: Two people who agree to be contacted by IRCC. They do not need to be Canadian citizens.
Documents and costs
| Document / Option | Cost (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application form PPTC 153 | Included | Signed by you and your guarantor. |
| Canadian citizenship certificate | Included | From Step 1. Mandatory. |
| Proof of identity | Included | Driver's licence or foreign passport with photo. |
| Two identical passport photos | Included | Guarantor signs the back of one photo. |
| 5-year adult passport | $120 | Standard processing: 10-20 business days. |
| 10-year adult passport | $160 | Standard processing: 10-20 business days. Better value for frequent travellers. |
Express processing (2-9 business days) and emergency processing (next business day) are available at Service Canada passport offices. Your completed passport is mailed to you - typically within five business days of completion.
What a Canadian Passport Actually Gives You
A Canadian passport is more than a travel document - it confirms your citizenship and gives you rights that no visa or permit can replicate.
✈️ Visa-Free Travel
Canadian passport holders travel visa-free or with visa-on-arrival to over 180 countries - one of the world's most powerful passports.
🏠 Right of Return
You can enter Canada at any time, without IRCC approval, a visa, a work permit, or a study permit. The passport is all you need.
👨👩👧 Sponsor Your Family
Once citizenship is confirmed, you can sponsor your spouse through spousal sponsorship and explore other family sponsorship pathways.
♾️ No Expiry on Status
Unlike permanent residence, Canadian citizenship does not expire and has no physical presence requirement to maintain it. It is yours for life.
Situations Our Team Handles
Most citizenship certificate files are straightforward. Some are not. Here is where professional guidance makes a practical difference.
| Situation | How We Help |
|---|---|
| Citizenship by descent - Bill C-3 | Eligibility assessment across the full ancestral chain, document strategy, and complete application management as your authorized IRCC representative. |
| Multigenerational claims (grandparent or great-grandparent) | Legal review under successive versions of the Citizenship Act. Identification of gaps and preparation of supporting affidavits where needed. |
| Physical presence calculation for citizenship grant | Verification of the 1,095-day requirement and review of travel history before you apply - not after a refusal. |
| Criminal history or inadmissibility in the chain | Legal assessment of whether criminal history affects citizenship eligibility. Handled by our immigration lawyer. |
| Citizenship refusal or appeal | Review of refusal grounds and advice on judicial review at Federal Court where the refusal is legally unsound. |
| Sponsoring family after citizenship confirmed | We handle the next steps as a separate engagement - spousal sponsorship, dependent children, and family class applications. |
Does a Criminal Record Affect Passport Eligibility?
A criminal record does not automatically block a Canadian passport - but it can affect your citizenship eligibility, which is the step that comes before the passport.
If you or an ancestor in your citizenship chain has a criminal history in Canada or abroad, get a legal assessment before applying. Some offences affect whether citizenship can be claimed at all. Our team handles inadmissibility assessments as a standard part of complex citizenship files.
Immigration Services We Offer in Mississauga
IPJ Immigration Solutions is based in Mississauga and serves clients across the GTA and Canada on every major immigration program.
| Service | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Citizenship Application in Mississauga | Proof of citizenship, grant of citizenship, and Bill C-3 descent claims. |
| Express Entry in Mississauga | Federal skilled worker, CEC, and skilled trades PR pathways. |
| Canadian Experience Class in Mississauga | PR for workers with one year of skilled Canadian work experience. |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program in Mississauga | PR for internationally trained professionals through Express Entry. |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program in Mississauga | PR for certified tradespeople with a job offer or Canadian trade certificate. |
| Spousal Sponsorship in Mississauga | Sponsorship of a spouse or common-law partner for permanent residence. |
| Family Sponsorship in Mississauga | Sponsorship of dependent children, parents, and grandparents. |
| Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship in Mississauga | Sponsoring parents or grandparents when the federal PGP program reopens. |
| PR Card Renewal in Mississauga | PR card renewal and residency obligation compliance. |
| Work Permit in Mississauga | LMIA-based, intra-company transfer, and open work permits. |
| Post Graduation Work Permit in Mississauga | PGWP for international graduates of Canadian designated learning institutions. |
| Study Permit in Mississauga | Study permit applications, extensions, and conditions compliance. |
| Visitor Visa in Mississauga | TRV and Super Visa applications for parents and grandparents. |
| Temporary Resident Permit in Mississauga | TRP for individuals who are inadmissible but have compelling reasons to enter. |
| Criminal Rehabilitation in Mississauga | Rehabilitation applications to resolve criminal inadmissibility. |
| Inadmissibility to Canada - Mississauga | Assessment and resolution of criminal, medical, or misrepresentation inadmissibility. |
| Humanitarian and Compassionate Application in Mississauga | H&C applications for individuals facing hardship if removed from Canada. |
| Conjugal Partner Sponsorship in Mississauga | Sponsorship for couples unable to cohabit or marry due to an immigration barrier. |
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The citizenship certificate is mandatory. You must complete Step 1 (certificate) before Step 2 (passport). There is no way to combine or skip these two applications.
Plan for approximately 12-14 months in total. Citizenship certificates are processing at 9-12 months as of mid-2026. Once you receive your certificate, standard passport processing takes 10-20 business days, or 2-9 business days at express speed.
CAD $75 for the citizenship certificate. Then CAD $120 for a 5-year passport or CAD $160 for a 10-year passport. Add passport photo costs and any translation or certified copy fees for older records. Professional service fees are separate.
Yes, in most cases. If your parent was a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth, you acquired citizenship automatically. You do not apply to become a citizen - you apply for proof of it. The $75 citizenship certificate documents the status you already hold.
Yes, if your citizenship chain was previously cut by the first-generation limit. Bill C-3 retroactively restores citizenship for people born before December 15, 2025 who were excluded because their Canadian parent was also born abroad. If your grandparent or great-grandparent was Canadian and the chain was previously broken, you may now qualify.
Yes. Once your citizenship certificate is issued, you can sponsor your spouse or partner through spousal sponsorship. Citizenship also opens other family sponsorship pathways. Citizenship never expires and has no residency obligation to maintain - unlike permanent residence.
That does not prevent your claim. What matters under Bill C-3 is whether they would have been a citizen under the law - not whether they applied for proof during their lifetime. The retroactive restoration is based on legal status, not administrative action.
After submitting, you receive an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) confirming your file is in the system. Expect minimal visible updates for months while background review happens internally. A static tracker is completely normal - it does not mean your file is stalled. Only follow up through the IRCC web form if you are significantly past 12 months with no updates or document requests.
Yes. If you hold permanent residence or other valid status, you can still enter Canada while your certificate processes. As a citizen by descent, you also have a legal right of entry regardless of document status - though proving this at the border without a certificate can involve additional questioning.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Fees and processing times change regularly. Every immigration situation is unique. Please book a consultation for guidance specific to your circumstances.
Lawyer
About the Author
Paulina Harirbafan
Immigration Lawyer, JD - Law Society of Ontario | IPJ Immigration Solutions
Paulina is a licensed immigration lawyer with the Law Society of Ontario and holds a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School. She focuses on the legal side of immigration that demands more than a checklist: inadmissibility, criminal rehabilitation, procedural fairness letters, appeals, judicial reviews, and complex admissibility responses. When an application carries legal risk, her role is to make sure the strategy is sound before anything reaches IRCC.
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