Lost citizenship certificate - how long?

[lotusEsp]

I got my Canadian citizenship a couple of years ago, but stupidly didnt get my passport afterwards

Now I want to travel, and I cant apply for my passport because I dont have my proof of citizenship - I have lost the certificate somewhere. (probably in a house move)


Looking at the website, it says a replacement certificate will take 17 months! This means I cannot get a passport or travel for over a year and a half. That's crazy

Does anyone know if the waiting time for a new certificate is really 17 months? I know you can try to get it fast tracked if you have a death in the family and need to travel, but that seems a bit extreme to arrange that

I am really upset that I cant get a canadian passport and that Canada cant verify that I am a citizen without a ceremonial bit of paper.

 

[canvis2006]

I’ve heard of people getting it faster.
Apply asap

did you not keep a copy, or write the certificate # somewhere or save a scan in email?? Why not?

why not fillup firms for passport and visit a passport office and see if they can find you in the system with like a health card, or DL??
If you have a copy or scan of your old PR documents, there should be a Client Id number, which can be used….as it remains easy to lookup citizenship status with UCI (client id).

 

[lotusEsp]

I’ve heard of people getting it faster.
Apply asap

did you not keep a copy, or write the certificate # somewhere or save a scan in email?? Why not?

why not fillup firms for passport and visit a passport office and see if they can find you in the system with like a health card, or DL??
If you have a copy or scan of your old PR documents, there should be a Client Id number, which can be used….as it remains easy to lookup citizenship status with UCI (client id).

Thanks
Yes I do have my old UCI number from PR/Work Permits

Whilst I agree it should be easy for them to look up my citizenship status, I have zero confidence they would even do it. We've all been to Service ontario with what we thought was the correct paperwork for stuff and been told we needed something else by a stony cold employee, so I cant see me having any luck going in knowingly without the right documents

Yes I was stupid for a) losing it and b) not having a copy - although they say dont accept copies either, only the original.

I still cant get over it taking 17 months for them to print off a replacement. So I am stuck without a passport and unable to travel for over a year and a half

 

[shiremag]

Thanks
Yes I do have my old UCI number from PR/Work Permits

Whilst I agree it should be easy for them to look up my citizenship status, I have zero confidence they would even do it. We've all been to Service ontario with what we thought was the correct paperwork for stuff and been told we needed something else by a stony cold employee, so I cant see me having any luck going in knowingly without the right documents

Yes I was stupid for a) losing it and b) not having a copy - although they say dont accept copies either, only the original.

I still cant get over it taking 17 months for them to print off a replacement. So I am stuck without a passport and unable to travel for over a year and a half

They just launched an e-citizenship certificate pilot project and portal:
https://portal-portail.apps.cic.gc.ca/signin?lang=en

I think you might have to be invited to use this service. But It might be worth it to see if you can still access it by registering.

There is a Video I found on the Internet to download the e-certificate:

It might not work for you but give it a try and let us know. Otherwise as the above post says, applying for proof of citizenship is your best option and if they select you for this e-certificate pilot, you can probably download the cert within hours of them approving your application