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Surrender Certificate Timeline - Ottawa BLS

Suh1756

Star Member
Mar 5, 2017
139
55
Anyone from Ottawa recently applied for Indian passport surrender certificate at the Ottawa BLS? What was your timeline folks? I have an appointment tomorrow for the surrender certificate and I am travelling on Jan 24 to UAE. After a week in UAE I will be travelling to India on tourist visa applied in UAE. If you share your timeline I will get a rough idea if I should just travel on the Indian passport and pay the penalty later or take the risk and apply for the surrender certificate now before I travel. Please share your timeline.
 

Suh1756

Star Member
Mar 5, 2017
139
55
@rajkamalmohanram I will be applying for passport surrender tomorrow at the BLS-Ottawa. The checklist says they need original Canadian citizenship certificate to be submitted. Passport is not needed as long as a letter of explanation is provided for not having the Canadian passport.

Question - do they really take original the Citizenship certificate or they just verify it and return it back and keep the copy? I am applying in-person. If they do take the original certificate with the application do I get it back along with the surrender certificate or sooner?

Please let me know your experience.
 

rajkamalmohanram

VIP Member
Apr 29, 2015
15,803
5,787
@rajkamalmohanram I will be applying for passport surrender tomorrow at the BLS-Ottawa. The checklist says they need original Canadian citizenship certificate to be submitted. Passport is not needed as long as a letter of explanation is provided for not having the Canadian passport.

Question - do they really take original the Citizenship certificate or they just verify it and return it back and keep the copy? I am applying in-person. If they do take the original certificate with the application do I get it back along with the surrender certificate or sooner?

Please let me know your experience.
When I applied, the ONLY original document that they took was the Indian passport for surrender. They did NOT ask to even see my original Canadian citizenship certificate or Canadian passport. You might want to check with someone who applied recently.

If the original citizenship certificate is mandatory, I would recommend that you apply for your Canadian passport first and then apply to surrender your Indian passport.
 
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Suh1756

Star Member
Mar 5, 2017
139
55
When I applied, the ONLY original document that they took was the Indian passport for surrender. They did NOT ask to even see my original Canadian citizenship certificate or Canadian passport. You might want to check with someone who applied recently.

If the original citizenship certificate is mandatory, I would recommend that you apply for your Canadian passport first and then apply to surrender your Indian passport.
thank you @rajkamalmohanram. Recommendation noted.
 

NMontD

Hero Member
Nov 30, 2016
453
106
@Suh1756


I will be applying from Montreal soon. However, using courier.

the call center told me that i don't have to send Citizenship certificate and Canadian passport originals.

This is what apart from application form

Photo(2 * 2 inches)
Indian Passport original(first and last copy)
Citizenship cert copy
COPR Copy
Passport copy
Address Proof.

Let me know if this is what you also will be sending
 

Suh1756

Star Member
Mar 5, 2017
139
55
@Suh1756


I will be applying from Montreal soon. However, using courier.

the call center told me that i don't have to send Citizenship certificate and Canadian passport originals.

This is what apart from application form

Photo(2 * 2 inches)
Indian Passport original(first and last copy)
Citizenship cert copy
COPR Copy
Passport copy
Address Proof.

Let me know if this is what you also will be sending
My list looks very similar the only difference will be that along with first and last page copy I will also carry a copy of all visa issued pages on my Indian passport. I am applying in-person.
 

lovedeepsingh

Hero Member
Oct 15, 2013
758
40
@Suh1756


I will be applying from Montreal soon. However, using courier.

the call center told me that i don't have to send Citizenship certificate and Canadian passport originals.

This is what apart from application form

Photo(2 * 2 inches)
Indian Passport original(first and last copy)
Citizenship cert copy
COPR Copy
Passport copy
Address Proof.

Let me know if this is what you also will be sending
Do we need to have canadian pp in hand?
I haven’t received it yet, can i still surrender my indian pp?
Whats the procedure to send the application via mail? I am in niagara and the appointments are not available till april in toronto BLS.
Thanks
 

NMontD

Hero Member
Nov 30, 2016
453
106
Even though you should be able to apply without Canadian PP(Based on certificate), recommendation is wait until you receive it to apply for surrender. You need to show them your proof of passport application slip and declaration. ?I waited since 13 th December till today as i just received my passport.

I am not sure about the mail. I used their courier service which they charge 90C$. I am in Montreal though.

Check in their portal for postal application
 

lovedeepsingh

Hero Member
Oct 15, 2013
758
40
Even though you should be able to apply without Canadian PP(Based on certificate), recommendation is wait until you receive it to apply for surrender. You need to show them your proof of passport application slip and declaration. ?I waited since 13 th December till today as i just received my passport.

I am not sure about the mail. I used their courier service which they charge 90C$. I am in Montreal though.

Check in their portal for postal application
Did you generate the courier label from the website?
I called them and they weren’t really helpful.
 

Loh12

Full Member
Jun 22, 2017
31
5
Hi, I applied for surrender certificate a on March 12, 2022, still I don't see any update, in BLS it says processing at consulate, how long should I wait to receive it, it's been already a month now?
 

Ryanpre3

Star Member
Dec 20, 2021
60
9
Hi, I applied for surrender certificate a on March 12, 2022, still I don't see any update, in BLS it says processing at consulate, how long should I wait to receive it, it's been already a month now?
Did you get it ? I applied on 19th March still waiting
 

uvsrsk

Star Member
Jan 19, 2013
106
23
Category........
Visa Office......
New Delhi
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
AOR Received.
28-08-2015
Passport Req..
15-01-2016
I just called BLS and the person told me that I need my Canadian Passport copy for Indian passport surrender & I can surrender my Indian Citizenship within 3 years of acquiring Canadian citizenship.
It seems a bit odd. Could someone who has undergone this whole ordeal help me with understanding the process ?
I have applied for Canadian passport on March 8th, still no update on my application. Passport Canada told me that no additional documents are required, and its a matter of time.
 
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johnsyk

Champion Member
Sep 24, 2016
1,190
934
NOC Code......
1121
App. Filed.......
10-4-2017
AOR Received.
10-4-2017
IELTS Request
Upfront
Med's Request
Upfront
Med's Done....
8-4-2017
The issue is that the Indian Citizenship surrender process is quite idiotic.

Logically, it does not make sense needing a Canadian passport if I want to surrender Indian citizenship. Citizenship and passport are not connected. There are thousands of Citizens both in India and Canada who don't have passports. Passport is just a travel document. It is not needed to prove ones citizenship. The citizenship certificate proves Im a Canadian citizen.

I can be a Canadian citizen and live the rest of my life here without a passport if I choose to. Passport is only needed to travel. Why would the Indian consulate insist that I need a Canadian passport? Even renouncing Indian citizenship is a nightmare. The stupidity never ends!
 
Last edited:

alex the king

Hero Member
Jun 24, 2017
312
272
43
Canada
Category........
QSW
Visa Office......
NDVO
NOC Code......
3112
Pre-Assessed..
Yes
App. Filed.......
07-07-2016
AOR Received.
14-11-2016
Med's Request
22-12-2016
Med's Done....
11-01-2017
Passport Req..
27-10-2017
VISA ISSUED...
07-11-2017
LANDED..........
24-12-2017
I just called BLS and the person told me that I need my Canadian Passport copy for Indian passport surrender & I can surrender my Indian Citizenship within 3 years of acquiring Canadian citizenship.
It seems a bit odd. Could someone who has undergone this whole ordeal help me with understanding the process ?
I have applied for Canadian passport on March 8th, still no update on my application. Passport Canada told me that no additional documents are required, and its a matter of time.
Call again, you got someone who is not aware if the process. Most of them without Canadian passport submitted for surrender with explanation letter. you can include your receiprt from Service Canada or passport Canada and explain that you haven't received. you should be fine. I am sending Monday without Canadian Paaport. Ottawa juridiction. I am adding Service Canada papaer they give while application and i will write a letter that i haven;t got yet due to prolonged delays..