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How do I replace a lost or stolen Canadian citizenship certificate?

To replace a lost or stolen citizenship card or certificate, you must do so through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), either online or by mail.

IRCC is no longer issuing cards. Your replacement certificate will be a letter-sized document with a unique number and your basic information. The citizenship certificate is an official legal document that proves your citizenship status.

If the card or certificate were stolen, make sure to file a police report right away. You now have two options for ordering the replacement: You can apply to receive one electronically or on paper.

Electronic or e-Certificates

You can apply online and request a digital replacement and will receive an e-certificate through email. The e-certificate is a valid proof of Canadian citizenship that:

starts with an "X" instead of a “K” (like a paper certificate)
has your unique client identifier (UCI)
has your last name and given name(s)
has your date of birth
lists your gender (male, female or another gender)
the effective date of citizenship

To apply online, you must create an online account (if you don’t already have one) and sign in. You must have:

an email address
access to a scanner or digital camera to create electronic images of your documents and upload them
a valid credit card, Debit MasterCard® or Visa® Debit card to pay

There is a $75 processing fee to get a replacement certificate. If you have more than one family member replacing a citizenship certificate, it is $75 per person.

Paper Certificates

If you don’t want to apply online, you can request an application package for a paper certificate. The paper certificate is an 8.5” x 11” document that will be mailed to you that is valid proof of citizenship. The paper certificate has almost the same information as an e-certificate:

the certificate number starts with a "K" instead of an “X”
your unique client identifier (UCI)
your family name and given name(s)
your date of birth
your gender (male, female or another gender)
the effective date of citizenship

There is a $75 per person processing fee for a paper certificate replacement.

For further assistance, call the IRCC Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100.

If you are outside Canada, contact the nearest Canadian embassy, high commission, or consulate.

Application Status

If it’s been more than six weeks since you ordered or lost the certificate and still haven’t received it, you can follow up online to see the application status or submit a Solemn Declaration Concerning a Citizenship Certificate That Was Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Never Received (CIT 0457).

For More Information

I lost my wallet - Information on cancelling and replacing government identification cards. From Service Ontario.
IRCC Help Centre - A tool that helps answer frequently asked immigration-related questions. From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.