Your First Canadian Passport as a New Citizen

For most new citizens, the first practical question after the ceremony is travel. The answer is simple, and getting it wrong can strand you outside the country, so it is worth reading before you book anything. This is from IRCC's page on what happens after the ceremony and its page on applying for a new adult passport, checked on 23 September 2026.

You need your certificate first

IRCC says you can only apply for a passport after you get your citizenship certificate, which is your proof of citizenship.

• With a paper certificate from an in-person ceremony, you have it the same day.
• With a paper certificate from a virtual ceremony, it arrives by mail two to four weeks after IRCC receives your signed oath form.
• With an electronic certificate, it is available in the IRCC Portal within about five business days of your signed form arriving, and you must print it to apply.

Do not travel until the passport arrives

This is the part people miss. IRCC is explicit that as a Canadian citizen you must have a Canadian passport to travel abroad and return to Canada, for two reasons:

• your permanent resident card is collected or destroyed at the ceremony
• your citizenship certificate is not a travel document, and cannot be used to enter Canada

That leaves a gap between the ceremony and your passport in which you have nothing to travel on. Plan trips for after the passport is in your hands.

If you are also a citizen of another country

If you hold another citizenship, IRCC says you can enter Canada only with a valid Canadian passport or a special authorization issued only in certain circumstances. Travelling on your other country's passport alone does not work for coming home to Canada.

Applying

There are separate applications for an adult passport and a child passport. IRCC's page for a new adult passport is the place to start, and it sets out the current requirements and fees. It notes that most passport and travel document fees changed on 31 March 2026, so check the current fee there rather than trusting an older figure.

Keep your certificate usable

The certificate matters for the passport application in a specific way: officials need to confirm its information and read its barcode. Do not laminate it or put any plastic coating on it.

A short checklist

• Wait for your certificate, and print it if it is electronic
• Apply for your Canadian passport, and for your children's
• Hold off on international travel until the passport arrives
• If you are a dual citizen, remember you still need the Canadian passport to return

If anyone in your family has the test still ahead, our free practice questions and study guide are where to start.