citizenship application with a family name change

[Santorini]

Hi,

I will apply for citizenship, but my concern is the required docs.

On my PR card and all my IDs are issued with my maiden name. But last year when I renewed my passport at the consulate of my country in Ottawa; my married surname was added on my passport. Therefore I have 2 surnames on my passport and all my Canadian IDs shows my maiden name only.

Citizenship application requires foll docs when you changed your name:

If you have legally changed your name outside Canada and are residing in Canada
Then you must provide a copy of the following documents:

• A foreign passport or other national authoritative documentation amended to reflect the new name;
• A document that links your previous name to your new name, such as a foreign marriage certificate (with an official translation); and
• A document in the new name from Canadian provinces or territories (ex. driver's license, health card, age of majority card, senior citizen’s identification card, or social service card)

So, I don't have the last doc. Should I quickly change my PR card and got a new one with my 2 surnames? If I apply without any Canadian docs, would I have a refusal? Or marriage certificate would be enough?

Thank you

 

[btbt]

Hi,

I will apply for citizenship, but my concern is the required docs.

On my PR card and all my IDs are issued with my maiden name. But last year when I renewed my passport at the consulate of my country in Ottawa; my married surname was added on my passport. Therefore I have 2 surnames on my passport and all my Canadian IDs shows my maiden name only.

Citizenship application requires foll docs when you changed your name:

If you have legally changed your name outside Canada and are residing in Canada
Then you must provide a copy of the following documents:

• A foreign passport or other national authoritative documentation amended to reflect the new name;
• A document that links your previous name to your new name, such as a foreign marriage certificate (with an official translation); and
• A document in the new name from Canadian provinces or territories (ex. driver's license, health card, age of majority card, senior citizen’s identification card, or social service card)

So, I don't have the last doc. Should I quickly change my PR card and got a new one with my 2 surnames? If I apply without any Canadian docs, would I have a refusal? Or marriage certificate would be enough?

Thank you

Requesting a PR card is not the fastest way of going about this (three months average processing time). Updating your driver's licence (or photo card) and health card are faster processes (depending on the province: usually done within 4 to 6 weeks).

That said, you will have to do some research to determine what your province allows. From a quick glance it seems Ontario will allow someone to assume their spouse's name or to keep their own name. A double surname, consisting of both names, requires a formal change of name (so at cost and there is a processing delay).

Quebec does not allow name changes upon marriage (with very rare exceptions, and those need approval from the Directeur de l'état civil), so if you live there it's not an option to get an updated document.

(Do some more research yourself for whichever province or territory you live in; this is based on 2 minutes worth of searching the internet)

If you can assume the combined name you can get an updated driver's licence (or photo card) and health card, and send those as the Canadian document they ask for. This is going to be the easiest approach, if it's permissible in your province.

If you can change your name (a slightly more involved process than assuming a name) you can go through that process and get the new licence etc. Obviously there's some cost and delay that comes with this.

If you can't change your name you can just send the copy of the passport, the marriage certificate, and include a letter explaining that you do not have a matching Canadian document because, in your province, you are not able to change your name to match.

If you are fine with using your maiden name as your only name within Canada you can send the copy of the passport, the marriage certificate, and include a letter explaining that you have the two names in your passport because it is customary (or mandatory?) in your home country, but that you use your maiden name and do not wish to change it.

IRCC may refuse to accept either of these last two approaches (in which case you'd need to do the name change dance, or get a new passport). If they do accept it that does mean your citizenship certificate (and passport) will be issued in your maiden name. If that is not what you want you'll have to take one of the other approaches.

 

[Santorini]

Thank you for your reply, I live in Quebec and will try to change my driver's licence first and then apply. Thanks again.

Requesting a PR card is not the fastest way of going about this (three months average processing time). Updating your driver's licence (or photo card) and health card are faster processes (depending on the province: usually done within 4 to 6 weeks).

That said, you will have to do some research to determine what your province allows. From a quick glance it seems Ontario will allow someone to assume their spouse's name or to keep their own name. A double surname, consisting of both names, requires a formal change of name (so at cost and there is a processing delay).

Quebec does not allow name changes upon marriage (with very rare exceptions, and those need approval from the Directeur de l'état civil), so if you live there it's not an option to get an updated document.

(Do some more research yourself for whichever province or territory you live in; this is based on 2 minutes worth of searching the internet)

If you can assume the combined name you can get an updated driver's licence (or photo card) and health card, and send those as the Canadian document they ask for. This is going to be the easiest approach, if it's permissible in your province.

If you can change your name (a slightly more involved process than assuming a name) you can go through that process and get the new licence etc. Obviously there's some cost and delay that comes with this.

If you can't change your name you can just send the copy of the passport, the marriage certificate, and include a letter explaining that you do not have a matching Canadian document because, in your province, you are not able to change your name to match.

If you are fine with using your maiden name as your only name within Canada you can send the copy of the passport, the marriage certificate, and include a letter explaining that you have the two names in your passport because it is customary (or mandatory?) in your home country, but that you use your maiden name and do not wish to change it.

IRCC may refuse to accept either of these last two approaches (in which case you'd need to do the name change dance, or get a new passport). If they do accept it that does mean your citizenship certificate (and passport) will be issued in your maiden name. If that is not what you want you'll have to take one of the other approaches.

 

[Quebecoise]

It was exactly the same thing for me. I live in quebec too.
I sent my passeport, mariage certificat and a letter explaning why i use only my maiden name on my qc id’s.
I also asked to use both last name on my citizenship certificat, but when i passed the test (on my e cas too) all document showed only my maiden name. I assume that IRCC uses only my maiden name...
Honestly i would like to have both of them on my passport (especially because my married name is a very commun name in quebec and my maiden name is extreamly difficult to pronounce ) but if you live in qc, it is all about your maiden name. So it is not a problem for me.
Last thing, i dont think you can change your drivers licence cause when i renewed it recently, i asked and they told me they cant.
Good luck !

 

[Shantaveli]

Hello,

It's a lost cause. I wanted to add my husband family name to mine - nah. I spoke with a lawyer, with directeur de l'etat civil, with women in my situation - it is not possible at all! Never gonna happen in this province.
I feel awkward my kids have different names than mine and many times at the airports authorities asked me who are those children.

None of the IDs you could change so you legally assume your married name. They always required maiden name. Probably CIC must take into consideration Quebec laws. When I got my citizenship CIC put down my married name, when my application reached the local office, guess what my family name was automatically updated to my maiden name.

 

[tuweetuwee]

Hi, I am about to apply for Citizenship. There's a question, have you legally changed your name? I do not know what to answer either Yes or No. Because I live in Quebec, and all my IDs are still on my maiden name. However my passport is now on my married name. I am fine to just take my maiden name, I just do not know whether to answer this as Yes or No.

I hope someome can clarify, thank you!