Renunciation of citizenship (s.9)
Citizenship in Canada
- Eligibility
- A citizen MAY, on application, renounce citizenship if they are or will become a citizen of another country (anti-statelessness guard), are not a minor, understand the consequences, and do not reside in Canada (s.9(1); waivers s.9(2)). Renunciation is barred/suspended while a revocation notice or action is live (s.9(2.1)/(2.2)). Standard fee $100; C-3 created a separate SIMPLIFIED $0 renunciation (SOR/2025-278) for persons made citizens automatically under the new descent rules who do not want it.
- Renunciation
- Not required
Overview
CA-XCT-02 is the RENUNCIATION pathway under section 9 of the Citizenship Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-29 — the voluntary, applicant-initiated relinquishment of Canadian citizenship. It is an EXIT route (the XCT bucket), the mirror image of acquisition: a citizen who no longer wishes to be Canadian applies, and the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (IRCC) issues a certificate of renunciation. Renunciation is one of only two ways a citizen can lose status — the other being revocation for fraud (s.10/10.1, CA-XCT-01) — because s.7 provides that a citizen shall not cease to be a citizen except in accordance with Part II or regulations under s.27(1)(j.1). As of 2026-06-01 there is NO automatic loss of Canadian citizenship on acquiring a foreign nationality; renunciation is always a deliberate act. Bill C-3 (S.C. 2025, c. 5, in force 2025-12-15) added a separate SIMPLIFIED, no-fee renunciation track (SOR/2025-278) for persons who became citizens automatically under the new descent rules but do not want it. The two tracks — standard s.9 ($100) and simplified C-3 ($0) — coexist as of 2026-06-01.
Fees & cost
The standard s.9 renunciation fee is CAD 100.00 (processing only), per the IRCC citizenship and immigration fee list (date-modified 2026-04-30). The C-3 SIMPLIFIED renunciation carries NO FEE (CAD 0.00): the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement for SOR/2025-278 states there is 'no cost associated with making a citizenship renunciation application' for persons who became citizens by operation of C-3 and were born before 2025-12-15. These two figures are distinct and must not be conflated — a person eligible only for the standard track pays $100; a person within the narrow C-3-conferred cohort pays $0. For context within the same fee schedule (Canada-only): adult grant total $653 ($530 processing + $123 Right of Citizenship Fee, RCF up to $123 effective 2026-03-31), minor grant $100, proof of citizenship $75, resume citizenship $530 (adult) / $100 (under 18). Fees are indexed annually under the Service Fees Act; verify the live IRCC fee list before reliance.
Legal basis
The controlling provision is section 9 of the Citizenship Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-29 (provenance: R.S. 1985, c. C-29; 1992, c. 21; 2014, c. 22; 2017, c. 14, s. 2). Section 9(1) sets the five renunciation conditions; s.9(2) is the Ministerial waiver of two of them on compassionate grounds; s.9(2.1)/(2.2) interlock renunciation with revocation to prevent evasion; s.9(3) fixes the moment citizenship ceases. Section 7 frames s.9 by confirming that loss occurs only as Part II (or a s.27(1)(j.1) regulation) permits — renunciation is the principal voluntary Part II mechanism. The simplified C-3 renunciation rests on regulation-making authority in s.27(1)(j.1), operationalized by Regulations Amending the Citizenship Regulations, No. 2 (2025), SOR/2025-278 (registered 2025-12-12; Canada Gazette Part II Vol. 159 No. 27), tied to s.6 of S.C. 2025, c. 5. Definitions in s.2(1) — 'minor' (under 18), 'Court' (Federal Court) — fix the s.9(1)(c) age bar and the revocation-forum interlock. The Minister/IRCC is the decision-maker; this is an administrative, not a judicial, route.
Example scenarios
eligible
All s.9(1) conditions are met, no revocation interlock (s.9(2.1)/(2.2)) applies, and the anti-statelessness guard is satisfied by her Singaporean citizenship. Standard track, CAD 100.
eligible
Diego falls squarely within the narrow C-3-conferred cohort the simplified track was designed for (born abroad before 2025-12-15, citizen by operation of C-3, not by grant, holds another nationality). No fee (SOR/2025-278).
ineligible
Renouncing would render Sarah stateless, which s.9(1)(a) prohibits. The anti-statelessness condition is unwaivable. She could only qualify after securing another nationality.
ineligible
The s.9(2.1)/(2.2) interlock suspends/bars renunciation while a revocation notice or action is live, regardless of whether the s.9(1) conditions are otherwise met.
Informational summary compiled from primary legal sources — not legal advice. Citizenship law changes; verify with the competent authority before acting. Last verified 2026-06-01.
Track changes to this route
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