Change of lastname due to marriage and application for Canadian Citizenship

[Emilia1]

Hello,
I am a citizen of Russia with a PR status in Canada, I live in Manitoba. I got married on the territory of Ukraine with the citizen of Ukraine. I did not think very well in the begining so I changed my last name on my husband's lastname, so my marriage certificate says that I changed my lastname and that I have to change my documents. And now to apply for Canadian citizenship (ASAP) I have to change the lastname on my passport and on my PR card after. The Russian consulate said that they can't change my passport because my marriage certificate is Ukranian and so there is almost no way to change my passport inside of Canada.
So will I be able to apply for a citizenship with my old lastname or I must somehow change it (if so tell my how), because my marriage certificate has my husbands lastname.

I tried to use the Russian Agency service but they can change my travel passport only after my iternal passport and that will cost me a couple thousand dollars.

 

[EstherBarros]

Hello,
I am a citizen of Russia with a PR status in Canada, I live in Manitoba. I got married on the territory of Ukraine with the citizen of Ukraine. I did not think very well in the begining so I changed my last name on my husband's lastname, so my marriage certificate says that I changed my lastname and that I have to change my documents. And now to apply for Canadian citizenship (ASAP) I have to change the lastname on my passport and on my PR card after. The Russian consulate said that they can't change my passport because my marriage certificate is Ukranian and so there is almost no way to change my passport inside of Canada.
So will I be able to apply for a citizenship with my old lastname or I must somehow change it (if so tell my how), because my marriage certificate has my husbands lastname.

I tried to use the Russian Agency service but they can change my travel passport only after my iternal passport and that will cost me a couple thousand dollars.

Hi Emilia,

that is indeed a complicated situation. Firstly, I can assure you you can use your documents in your SINGLE name to apply for the Canadian Citizenship. That will mean your certificate of citizenship will be in your SINGLE name, though, the same as your PR card and Passport. You do not HAVE to change your documents to your husband's last name just because you are married.

I am not aware of the situation with Ukraine/Russia, but what you can do is do a legal name change IN CANADA, then update your PR card with your new, married name to reflect that change. This should suffice to get the certificate of citizenship to be issued in your new name.

As for your Russian passport, I have no idea how to proceed. I assume you have to get your marriage recognized in Russia, using the Ukranian certificate, then move forward with changing your name in your passport/Russian documents. Your embassy should be able to give you more information, but it could make sense that a Canadian embassy would only deal with Canadian marriage certificates. I am not sure.

I hope this helps, good luck!

 

[Emilia1]

Thank you! I think it will be easier for to apply for a citizenship with my maiden name and change it after.
Do you think in the application for citizenship form I have to write both my maiden name and my family name?

 

[EstherBarros]

Thank you! I think it will be easier for to apply for a citizenship with my maiden name and change it after.
Do you think in the application for citizenship form I have to write both my maiden name and my family name?

I think you can add your married name to the section in which they ask about names you use/have used in the past, question 6!