Embassy of the United States Ottawa, Canada

Adults who wish to claim U.S. Citizenship, please submit the following to the Consular Section (American Citizens Services) of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate nearest to your residence.

Checklist

1. Citizenship Questionnaire (57KB PDF)
2. Form DS-11, completed but not signed.
3. Form DS-4079 (109KB PDF), completed but not signed.
4. Applicant's official Provincial Birth Record, showing complete information on the parents
   Note: Some posts can only accept an original Registration of Live Birth, bearing the impression seal of the Vital Statistics office. This record is kept on file with Vital Statistics and a certified photocopy bearing the impression seal of the office can be issued. This document tells us whether there have been any amendments to the record. The child's certificate of birth is not always acceptable. Please refer to your post-specific instructions when you receive your application forms, for acceptable birth record instructions.
5. Applicant's Identification, such as a driver's license, student I.D. or Canadian passport.
6. Evidence of Applicant's Name Change (if applicable)
   Note: Present your marriage certificates, divorce decrees, adoption papers, or court-ordered name changes. This is important for women whose last name has changed since birth because of marriage(s).
7. Evidence of U.S. Citizenship of Parent(s)
   U.S. passport, Certificate of Citizenship/Naturalization, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a U.S. birth certificate bearing the impression seal of the vital records office that issued it and including the date of filing. If you do not have a certified copy of your parents' birth record, write to the vital records office in the state, county, or municipality where your U.S. citizen parent or parents were born. Many records from the turn of the century are not readily available. If none of the vital records offices listed above have a record, keep the replies and try to obtain secondary evidence, such as a census record or a baptismal record showing date and place of birth. All correspondence from these places must be submitted with your application.
   Note: If you were born before May 24, 1934, you will have acquired your U.S. citizenship through either your mother or your father. You need only submit evidence of U.S. citizenship for one or the other, not both. If you were born after May 24, 1934, to two U.S. parents, submit evidence of U.S. citizenship for both of them.
8. Certified copy of the Parents' Marriage Certificate
9. Documentary evidence of termination of any previous marriages of either parent (i.e. divorce decree, death certificate, etc.), if applicable
10. Evidence of your parent(s)'s residence/physical presence in the U.S.:
    
    • If you were born between Jan. 13, 1941 and prior to Dec. 24, 1952, to one U.S. citizen parent, you will need to present evidence of the periods during which your U.S. citizen parent resided in the U.S.
    • If you were born on or after Dec. 24, 1952, to one U.S. citizen parent, you will need to present evidence of the periods during which your U.S. citizen parent was physically present in the U.S.
    • If you have two foreign-born U.S. citizen parents, you must present evidence that at least one of them resided in the U.S. prior to your birth.
    Note: Physical presence is not the same as residence. For example, if a person was residing in the U.S., but left for vacations or schooling abroad, the person was not physically present in the U.S. during those periods of time.
    • Submit your parent's Canadian Immigration Record showing original entry to Canada from the U.S. Other evidence may be required by the Consul, such as school records, military records, employment records, etc.
    • If you were born after Jan. 13, 1941 and your U.S. citizen parent is still living, have that parent complete the Affidavit of Parentage and sign it before either a U.S. Consular Officer or a Notary Public.
    • If your parent is deceased, submit the death certificate and other evidence, as above.
11. Photographs
    Submit two recent, identical color passport photographs, two inches by two inches, as described on the back of form Form DS-11 Passport Application.
12. Fee
    $135.00 U.S. funds in the form of cash or money order. PERSONAL CHECKS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED. We also accept all major credit cards. We do not have the facilities to pay by debit card.

Please Note: Copies of documents certified by notaries cannot be accepted.

All documents submitted must be original records, bearing the official seal of the issuing authority.

Submit Your Completed Questionnaire

Submit your completed Questionnaire in person, together with Form DS-11 and the passport application fee, at the U.S. Consulate serving the region of Canada in which you reside.