Canadian Citizenship by Descent for Children: Family Application Guide

If you're applying for Canadian citizenship by descent under Bill C-3, your children can claim citizenship too. Each family member files separately, but you can share documents and coordinate the process to save time and reduce confusion.

Here's exactly how to apply for Canadian citizenship by descent for children alongside your own application.

Each child needs their own CIT 0001 form

Every person claiming citizenship—parent or child—must submit their own CIT 0001 (Application for Citizenship Certificate).

That means:

• One form per child
• $75 CAD fee per child (separate payment for each)
• Separate signed declaration for each application

The forms are identical whether you're applying for yourself or your children. If you need help completing the form line by line, our CIT 0001 step-by-step guide walks through every question.

Minors under 18: who signs the form

If your child is under 18 years old, you (the parent or legal guardian) sign the CIT 0001 on their behalf.

The child does not sign. You sign Section 6 of the form and complete the parent/guardian information in Section 3.

If your child is 18 or older, they sign their own form.

You only need one set of supporting documents for the whole family

This is the part that saves you work.

The same chain of birth certificates that proves your eligibility also proves your children's eligibility. You don't need to order duplicate copies for each child.

What each child's application needs

For a typical grandparent-pathway case (most common under Bill C-3), each child's application includes:

• Child's birth certificate (long-form, showing both parents' names)
• Your birth certificate (the Canadian-citizen parent)
• Your parent's long-form Canadian birth certificate (the child's Canadian-born grandparent)
• Any name-change documents (marriage certificates, legal name changes) that connect the chain

The grandparent's birth certificate is the same document for every sibling. You can include one certified true copy and reference it in each child's application, or include photocopies with a cover letter explaining that the original certified copy is included with your (the parent's) application.

If you're applying at the same time as your children

Many parents submit their own citizenship application in the same envelope as their children's applications.

In that case:

• Include one set of the chain documents (grandparent and your birth certificate)
• Attach a cover letter listing all applicants by name and explaining that the family is applying together
• Include the certified copies with your application and reference them in the children's forms

IRCC processes these as separate applications, but the officer reviewing them will see the shared documentary evidence.

How to submit multiple applications together

You can mail all family applications in one envelope to the Sydney, Nova Scotia processing centre.

Organize the package like this

1. Cover letter at the top, listing:
   • All applicants' full names and dates of birth
   • Statement that you are a family applying together under Bill C-3
   • Note that supporting documents are shared across applications
2. Individual application packets, each with:
   • Completed and signed CIT 0001
   • Payment receipt ($75 per person, separate receipts if paying online individually, or one combined payment with explanation)
   • Child's birth certificate
   • Photocopy of parent's birth certificate (original in parent's packet)
   • Photocopy of grandparent's birth certificate (original in parent's packet)
3. One set of certified/original documents (grandparent's long-form Canadian birth certificate, your birth certificate, any name-change documents)

Use paperclips or binder clips to keep each person's application separate. Do not staple or bind the entire package.

Payment options for families

You have two choices:

• Pay $75 separately for each family member online and include each receipt with the corresponding application
• Pay one combined amount (e.g., $300 for a family of four) and include a note in your cover letter explaining the breakdown

IRCC accepts either approach. Separate receipts are slightly clearer for processing, but a combined payment with explanation works too.

Timeline: will the children's applications be processed together?

IRCC processes citizenship certificate applications individually, but they often batch family applications submitted together.

Typical processing time is 9 to 12 months as of mid-2026. You can expect:

• All applications to enter the queue at the same time
• Possible batched review if the same officer handles the family
• Separate citizenship certificates mailed to each approved applicant

There is no guarantee the applications will finish on the same day, but they usually stay close in timeline if submitted together. For more on current wait times, see our processing time guide.

What if your child was born after December 15, 2025?

Bill C-3 introduced a substantial connection test for children born outside Canada on or after December 15, 2025, to a Canadian parent who was also born outside Canada.

To pass the test, you (the Canadian-citizen parent) must have spent 1,095 days physically present in Canada before your child's birth.

If your child was born before December 15, 2025, the substantial connection test does not apply. They are a Canadian citizen by descent with no additional requirements.

For children born after that date, include evidence of your physical presence in Canada (travel records, school transcripts, employment records, tax documents) with the child's CIT 0001. Our substantial connection test guide explains what documentation IRCC expects.

Can your children pass citizenship to their own children?

Yes, under the same rules that apply to you.

Once your child receives their Canadian citizenship certificate, they are a Canadian citizen. If they have children outside Canada in the future:

• Before December 15, 2025: those children (your grandchildren) are Canadian citizens by descent automatically
• On or after December 15, 2025: those children are Canadian citizens if your child meets the substantial connection test (1,095 days in Canada before the grandchild's birth)

There is no longer a generational limit under Bill C-3, but the substantial connection test applies to each new generation born outside Canada. For multi-generational scenarios, see our great-grandparent pathway guide.

What happens after your children are approved

Each child will receive their own Canadian citizenship certificate by mail. This is the official proof of citizenship.

With the certificate in hand, your children can:

• Apply for a Canadian passport (adult passport $160 CAD, child passport under 16 is $57 CAD, valid 5 years)
• Travel to Canada without a visa or eTA
• Live, work, or study in Canada indefinitely
• Access Canadian healthcare (after provincial residency requirements are met)
• Sponsor future family members for immigration (once they meet residency requirements)

For next steps after approval, see our guide on what to do after receiving your citizenship certificate.

Dual citizenship for American children

If your children were born in the United States, they remain US citizens. Canada allows dual citizenship, and the US does not require children to renounce US citizenship when they claim Canadian citizenship by descent.

Your children can hold both passports and travel on either. For tax and reporting obligations, see our dual US-Canadian citizenship tax guide.

Common questions about applying for children

Do I need to apply for myself before applying for my children?

No. You can submit all applications at the same time. IRCC does not require the parent's citizenship to be confirmed before processing the children's applications, especially when the documentary chain is the same.

What if my children were born in different provinces or countries?

Each child includes their own birth certificate showing their place of birth. The rest of the documentary chain (your birth certificate and your parent's Canadian birth certificate) remains the same.

Can I apply for my children if I was born in Canada?

If you were born in Canada, your children born outside Canada are Canadian citizens automatically (first generation), regardless of Bill C-3. They still need to file CIT 0001 to get a citizenship certificate, but the process is simpler—no grandparent documents required. See our general citizenship by descent guide for first-generation cases.

What if I'm not sure my children are eligible?

Take our free eligibility quiz at /check to confirm whether your children qualify for citizenship by descent under Bill C-3. The quiz covers the substantial connection test and generational rules.

Apply as a family with confidence

Applying for Canadian citizenship by descent for children alongside your own application is straightforward when you organize the documents properly and submit everything together.

Each child needs their own form and fee, but you share the same chain of birth certificates that prove the family's connection to Canada. That means less duplication, less cost, and a coordinated timeline for the whole family.

Ready to confirm your children's eligibility? Take our free eligibility quiz to see if your family qualifies under Bill C-3, and get a clear breakdown of what documents you'll need for each person.