What to Do After Getting Canadian Citizenship in 2026

1. Apply for Your Canadian Passport

Your Canadian passport is the single most important document to obtain after your citizenship ceremony. It serves as proof of citizenship when travelling internationally and is accepted as primary identification within Canada. You can apply for a passport immediately after receiving your citizenship certificate — many new citizens apply on the same day.

How to Apply

1. Download the passport application form from canada.ca/passport or pick one up at a Service Canada office
2. Complete the form and have a guarantor sign your application and one photograph (your guarantor must be a Canadian citizen who has known you for at least 2 years)
3. Get two identical passport photos that meet Canada's specific size and quality requirements (50 mm x 70 mm, white background, neutral expression)
4. Gather your citizenship certificate (the original — photocopies are not accepted for first-time applicants)
5. Submit in person at a Service Canada office or passport office, or by mail

Fees and Processing Times (2026)

Tips for a Smooth Application

• Apply in person at a Service Canada office for faster processing and to avoid postal delays
• Keep your citizenship certificate safe — it is expensive and time-consuming to replace ($75 CAD, up to 12 months processing)
• If you plan to travel soon, consider urgent processing (available at select passport offices in major cities)
• Your previous country's passport remains valid for travel to that country until it expires, but you should enter and leave Canada with your Canadian passport once you have it

2. Register to Vote

Voting is one of the most important rights you gain as a Canadian citizen — and one that permanent residents do not have. As a citizen, you can now vote in federal, provincial, and municipal elections. Registering is simple and takes less than five minutes.

How to Register

• Online: Visit elections.ca and complete the registration form. You will need your SIN, date of birth, and current address.
• By mail: Download and print the registration form, then mail it to Elections Canada
• At the polls: You can register on election day at your polling station with proof of identity and address
• During tax filing: Check the box on your federal tax return to consent to sharing your information with Elections Canada

Elections You Can Vote In

As a Canadian citizen, you are eligible to vote in three levels of elections: federal elections (Members of Parliament and the Prime Minister's party), provincial or territorial elections (Members of the Provincial Legislature or National Assembly), and municipal elections (mayor, city councillors, and school board trustees). Each level has its own registration process, but federal registration through Elections Canada is the most important first step.

You can also run for elected office at any level of government. This is a right reserved exclusively for Canadian citizens.

3. Update Your SIN and Service Canada Records

Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) does not change when you become a citizen, but Service Canada needs to update the record to reflect your new citizenship status. This is important for employment insurance, pension, and other government benefits.

How to Update

1. Visit a Service Canada office in person (this cannot be done online for citizenship status changes)
2. Bring your citizenship certificate (original, not a photocopy)
3. Bring a secondary piece of ID (driver's license, health card, or PR card)
4. Service Canada will update your record and give you a confirmation letter

If your SIN was originally issued with an expiry date (common for temporary residents and some permanent residents with conditional status), the update will also remove the expiry date. This ensures your employer can continue paying you without interruption and that your government benefit payments are processed correctly.

Other Records to Update

• Employer: Notify your employer of your new citizenship status so they can update your file
• Provincial health insurance: Contact your provincial health agency to update your records (Ontario: OHIP, BC: MSP, Quebec: RAMQ, Alberta: AHCIP, etc.)
• Driver's license: Visit your provincial licensing office to update your status if required
• Banks and financial institutions: Update your citizenship status with your bank, especially if you had non-resident status previously

4. Notify the CRA and Update Your Tax Profile

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) needs to know about your new citizenship status. While your tax obligations do not fundamentally change (Canadian residents are taxed on worldwide income regardless of citizenship), there are a few important updates to make.

What to Do

• Update your CRA My Account profile to reflect your new citizenship status
• On your next tax return, update your citizenship status (the SIN update at Service Canada may automatically trigger this, but it is good to confirm)
• Check your benefit eligibility: Some benefits (like the Canada Child Benefit) may have different rules based on citizenship vs. PR status in certain edge cases
• If you plan to live abroad: As a citizen (unlike as a PR), you can live abroad indefinitely without losing your status. However, CRA tax residency rules still apply — consult a tax professional if you plan to move outside Canada

Keep in mind that your CRA notice of assessment, T4 slips, and any correspondence will continue to be sent to your address on file. Make sure your mailing address is current in your CRA My Account.

5. Get a Travel Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees

Now that you have a Canadian passport, you are probably planning your first trip as a Canadian citizen. One of the smartest financial moves for new citizens is getting a Canadian travel credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Most standard credit cards charge 2.5% on every purchase made abroad — a travel card eliminates this entirely.

What to Look For in a Travel Card

• No foreign transaction fees — Saves you 2.5% on every purchase abroad
• Travel insurance — Look for cards that include trip cancellation, medical emergency, and baggage loss coverage
• Sign-up bonus — Many premium cards offer $200–$400 in travel rewards when you meet the minimum spending threshold in the first 3 months
• Airport lounge access — Some cards include Priority Pass or equivalent lounge access, which can make layovers much more comfortable
• Rewards on everyday spending — Cards that earn 2–4x points on groceries, dining, and gas help you accumulate travel rewards faster

As a new citizen, your Canadian credit history is one of the most important factors for approval. If you have been building credit as a permanent resident, you are in a strong position to apply for premium travel cards. If you are newer to Canadian credit, consider starting with a no-fee card and upgrading after 6–12 months of positive history.

Compare the top travel credit cards in Canada, read the terms carefully, and choose one that matches your spending habits and travel goals. The right card can save you hundreds of dollars per year in foreign transaction fees alone, and the sign-up bonuses can fund your first trip as a Canadian.

6. Sponsor Family Members

One of the most meaningful benefits of Canadian citizenship is the ability to sponsor family members for permanent residence. While permanent residents can also sponsor spouses and children, citizens have additional advantages and fewer restrictions. If reuniting your family in Canada is a priority, here is what you need to know.

Who You Can Sponsor

• Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner — No minimum income requirement. Processing time: 12–15 months
• Dependent children — Under 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship. No minimum income requirement
• Parents and grandparents — Through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) or Super Visa. PGP has a minimum income requirement and opens annually with limited spots
• Other relatives — In certain circumstances, you may sponsor orphaned siblings, nephews, nieces, or grandchildren who are under 18 and unmarried

Key Requirements

• You must be 18 years or older
• You must live in Canada (citizens living abroad can sponsor a spouse or partner if they plan to return to Canada when the sponsored person becomes a PR)
• You must sign an undertaking agreeing to financially support the sponsored person for 3–20 years depending on the relationship
• For parents and grandparents, you must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) threshold for 3 consecutive tax years
• You must not be in default on a previous sponsorship undertaking, and must not be receiving social assistance (other than for disability)

The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) typically opens once per year with a limited number of invitations to apply. IRCC uses a lottery system to randomly select sponsors from the pool of interested applicants. If you are interested, submit your interest to sponsor form as soon as the intake period opens — usually in October or November. The Super Visa is an alternative that allows parents and grandparents to visit Canada for up to 5 years at a time, without permanent residence.

7. Understand Your New Rights as a Canadian Citizen

Becoming a Canadian citizen gives you rights that go beyond what you had as a permanent resident. Understanding these rights is important — they are protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and cannot be taken away as long as you are a citizen.

Rights Exclusive to Citizens

• Right to vote and run for office: You can vote in all federal, provincial, and municipal elections, and run as a candidate for any level of government
• Canadian passport: A Canadian passport allows you to travel to 185+ countries visa-free or with visa-on-arrival, making it one of the most powerful passports in the world
• Protection from deportation: Canadian citizens cannot be deported from Canada. Permanent residents can be deported for serious criminality, misrepresentation, or security grounds
• Work in federal government and security-cleared positions: Many jobs in the federal public service, RCMP, Canadian Forces, and intelligence agencies require Canadian citizenship
• Pass citizenship to children born abroad: Children born outside Canada to a Canadian citizen parent are Canadian citizens by descent (first generation born abroad)
• Live outside Canada without losing status: Permanent residents must maintain physical presence in Canada (730 days out of every 5 years) to keep their status. Citizens face no such requirement — you can live abroad indefinitely

Responsibilities of Citizenship

Along with these rights come responsibilities. As a Canadian citizen, you are expected to:

• Obey Canadian laws — Federal, provincial, and municipal
• Serve on a jury if called upon — Only citizens are eligible for jury duty
• Pay taxes honestly — File your tax return by the deadline and pay all taxes owed
• Respect the rights and freedoms of others — As outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• Participate in the democratic process — Voting is not legally mandatory in Canada, but it is a civic duty

Frequently Asked Questions