- Under the Citizenship Act, a person is a minor if they are under 18 years of age at the time of application.
- Permanent resident status The child must be a Canadian permanent resident.
- Minors are generally exempt As of writing, applicants who are under 18 at the time of application are not required to write the citizenship knowledge test and are not required to…
Applying for Canadian citizenship for a minor child is one of the most meaningful steps a parent can take — and one of the most confusing. The rules under the Citizenship Act are different for children than for adults, and the paperwork can feel overwhelming when you are managing school schedules, travel documents, and your own work.
If you are an Ontario parent asking how to get citizenship for your child Canada, this guide walks you through the key requirements: who can apply, what documents you need, and what to expect at every stage. All age cutoffs, fees, and timelines are based on information available at the time of writing — confirm current figures on Canada.ca or with IRCC before you file.
Who Is Considered a "Minor" for Citizenship Purposes?
Under the Citizenship Act, a person is a minor if they are under 18 years of age at the time of application. Once your child turns 18, they must apply as an adult — meaning they will face the language and knowledge test requirements that minors are generally exempt from.
Two ways a minor can apply
- Included in a parent's application. If at least one parent is applying for citizenship at the same time, the child can be included on the same application form. This is the most common route for families.
- Standalone minor application. A child who is a permanent resident can apply on their own application, separate from their parents. This applies, for example, when both parents already hold Canadian citizenship or when the parent's application was processed earlier.
In both scenarios, the parent or legal guardian signs the application on the child's behalf.
Eligibility Requirements for a Minor Child
Permanent resident status
The child must be a Canadian permanent resident. Citizenship cannot be granted directly from a temporary status (visitor, student, or work permit).
Physical presence in Canada
Children must meet the same physical presence requirement as adults — as of writing, that means being physically present in Canada for a minimum number of days in the years immediately before the application date. Confirm the current threshold on Canada.ca, as IRCC adjusts these rules periodically.
Key practical point for parents: the parent or guardian calculates the child's physical presence on the child's behalf. You will need to produce travel records — passport stamps, boarding passes, school attendance records, or equivalent documentation — covering the entire five-year period before the application date.
Time spent in Canada as a temporary resident before the child received permanent residence may count toward the calculation at a reduced rate. Check the current IRCC rules to see how pre-PR days are weighted for children.
Language and Knowledge Test Requirements
This is one area where applying as a minor is genuinely simpler.
Minors are generally exempt
As of writing, applicants who are under 18 at the time of application are not required to write the citizenship knowledge test and are not required to demonstrate language proficiency in English or French. This exemption exists because IRCC recognizes that children will acquire language and civics knowledge through the school system.
If your child turns 18 while the application is in progress — see the section below on that scenario.
Documents You Will Need
Gathering documents is usually the most time-consuming part of a minor's citizenship application. Expect to provide:
- Birth certificate (original or certified copy, with certified translation if not in English or French)
- Proof of permanent residence — PR card, confirmation of permanent residence (COPR), or equivalent
- Passports covering the physical presence calculation period (all passports the child has held)
- Parent's status documents — Canadian citizenship certificate or passport, or PR card, depending on the parent's own status
- Photos meeting IRCC specifications
- Travel history records — boarding passes, immigration stamps, or a signed statutory declaration explaining gaps
- Proof of legal guardianship if the applicant is not a biological parent (court order or equivalent)
Keep copies of everything you submit. IRCC will not return original documents.
Who Signs the Application?
A parent with lawful authority or a legal guardian must sign the application on behalf of a minor child. If the parents are separated or divorced, the parent with the legal authority to make decisions about the child's documentation should sign. Where there is any ambiguity about parental authority — for example, a custody order that does not address passports or immigration documents — you may want legal advice before filing.
The Citizenship Oath for Minor Children
Adult applicants must take the Oath of Citizenship at a ceremony before citizenship is granted. For minors, the rules are age-dependent — as of writing:
- Children under a certain age (confirm current threshold with IRCC) are not required to take the oath and citizenship is simply granted.
- Older minors who meet the threshold may be required to take the oath, depending on IRCC's current policy.
Oath ceremonies are held in person. IRCC will send your child a notice with the date, time, and location when the time comes.
Fees
IRCC charges an application fee for minor citizenship applications. As of writing, the fee for a minor is lower than the fee for an adult applicant — but fees are set by regulation and subject to change. Confirm the current fee schedule at Canada.ca before submitting payment. Fees are generally non-refundable even if the application is refused.
What Happens If Your Child Turns 18 Before the Process Completes?
Processing times for citizenship applications can stretch over a year or more. If your child turns 18 after the application is filed but before citizenship is granted, IRCC's general practice is to continue processing the application under the rules that applied at the time of filing — meaning the language and test exemptions may still apply. However, IRCC may contact your child to verify certain requirements.
This is a situation worth monitoring closely. If your child is close to 18 when you are considering filing, it is often worth acting quickly to get the application in under that threshold.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for my child's citizenship if I am not yet a Canadian citizen myself?
Yes. A minor who is a permanent resident can apply for citizenship on a standalone application, even if neither parent is a Canadian citizen. The child's own physical presence history is what matters, not the parent's citizenship status.
My child was born outside Canada after I became a citizen — do they need to apply?
Possibly not. Children born abroad to a Canadian citizen parent may have acquired citizenship automatically at birth under the Citizenship Act. Whether this applies depends on when you became a citizen and the generation rules in the Act. If your child may already be a citizen, speak with an immigration lawyer before filing a new application.
Do all children in my family need a separate application?
Yes. Each child is a separate applicant with their own processing fee, their own photos, and their own physical presence calculation. You can submit applications for multiple children at the same time, but IRCC treats each one individually.
How long does a minor's citizenship application typically take?
Processing times change frequently. IRCC publishes current processing time estimates on its website. Check Canada.ca for the most up-to-date timeline before you plan.
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