Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Edition CIT 0012 (06-2026) E 5 pages

Form CIT 0012 — Application for Canadian Citizenship for a Person Adopted by a Canadian Citizen (Part 2)

The second half of the direct route to citizenship for a child or adult adopted by a Canadian, filed after IRCC approves Part 1.

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CIT 0012 adoptee's application, Part 2 · Application for Canadian Citizenship for a Person Adopted by a Canadian Citizen (Part 2)
The official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) form, edition CIT 0012 (06-2026) E — blank
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CIT 0012 adoptee's application, Part 2 (2026) Application for Canadian Citizenship for a Person Adopted by a Canadian Citizen (Part 2) — page 1 of 5
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What is CIT 0012 adoptee's application, Part 2?

A person adopted outside Canada by a Canadian citizen can become a citizen without first immigrating as a permanent resident. The process has two parts. In Part 1 (CIT 0010), IRCC confirms that at least one adoptive parent was a Canadian citizen when the adoption happened. Once that's approved, Part 2, form CIT 0012, gives IRCC the details it needs to assess the adoption itself and the adopted person. The form says you must have the Part 1 approval letter before sending Part 2.

CIT 0012 is five pages long. It asks who is applying (an adoptive parent, a legal guardian, or the adopted person if 18 or older) and how to reach them. It asks when and where the adoption was finalized, and for the adopted person's names, date and place of birth, physical description, citizenships and passports. It also asks about biological family members if known, where the adopted person lives, every address for the past 10 years and what they have been doing in that time. Then come the adoptive parents' details, the choice of a paper or electronic certificate, a representative if any, and authorization to share information for a passport application abroad.

FileIt walks through each section and prints the answers into IRCC's own PDF, with accented names in the right boxes and dates in the form's YYYY-MM-DD style. The longer tables only open more rows when you need them. You sign the finished form in black ink inside the white box, as IRCC asks. It's saved to your FileIt vault, and FileIt doesn't send anything to IRCC.

Who fills it
An adoptive parent or legal guardian, or the adopted person if 18 or older
Before you send it
IRCC must have approved Part 1, form CIT 0010
Include
A copy of the final adoption order, or other proof the adoption is finalized
History covered
Addresses and activities for the past 10 years, and since age 13 if longer
Signatures
Signed in black ink inside the white box. An adopted child 14 or older signs too
Edition
CIT 0012 (06-2026) E

Who needs to fill out CIT 0012 adoptee's application, Part 2?

  • Canadian parents who adopted a child abroad and have their Part 1 approval letter.
  • Legal guardians applying on behalf of a person adopted by a Canadian citizen.
  • Adopted persons 18 or older, who the form says must fill in and sign their own application.
  • Families completing an adoption by a relative, such as a niece, nephew or grandchild.

When to use CIT 0012 adoptee's application, Part 2

  • After you receive IRCC's decision letter confirming that Part 1 (CIT 0010) was approved.
  • Once the adoption is final and you have the adoption order or other proof.
  • Separately for each adopted person. The form asks you to send several applications together in one envelope.

What you need before you start

  • The date on your Part 1 approval letter.
  • The final adoption order, with the date and place the adoption was completed.
  • The adopted person's birth certificate, any change-of-name document, and their passport or travel document details.
  • Details of biological parents and brothers and sisters, if known.
  • The adopted person's addresses and activities for the past 10 years, with no gaps.
  • Each adoptive parent's names, country and date of birth, and marital status.

What’s on CIT 0012 adoptee's application, Part 2

The 2026 edition has 5 pages. FileIt asks for it in 17 parts:

  1. 1 to 3: The adopted person and the applicationApplicant (adoptive parent, guardian or adopted person 18+)
  2. 4: Applicant's informationApplicant (adoptive parent, guardian or adopted person 18+)
  3. 5: Adoption detailsApplicant (adoptive parent, guardian or adopted person 18+)
  4. 6: Details of the adopted personApplicant (adoptive parent, guardian or adopted person 18+)
  5. 6J: Biological family member 1Applicant (adoptive parent, guardian or adopted person 18+)
  6. 6J: Biological family member 2Applicant (adoptive parent, guardian or adopted person 18+)
  7. 6J: Biological family member 3Applicant (adoptive parent, guardian or adopted person 18+)
  8. 6K to 6M: Where the adopted person lives, and addressesApplicant (adoptive parent, guardian or adopted person 18+)
  9. 6M: More addresses (rows 5 to 12)Applicant (adoptive parent, guardian or adopted person 18+)
  10. 6N: Personal historyApplicant (adoptive parent, guardian or adopted person 18+)
  11. 6N: More activities (rows 5 to 11)Applicant (adoptive parent, guardian or adopted person 18+)
  12. 7: Adoptive parentApplicant (adoptive parent, guardian or adopted person 18+)
  13. 7: Second adoptive parentApplicant (adoptive parent, guardian or adopted person 18+)
  14. 8: Adoptive parents' (or legal guardian's) address, if different from section 4Applicant (adoptive parent, guardian or adopted person 18+)
  15. 9 to 11: Certificate, representative and passportApplicant (adoptive parent, guardian or adopted person 18+)
  16. 12: Declaration and signaturesApplicant (adoptive parent, guardian or adopted person 18+)
  17. 12: Second signature (adopted child 14 or older)Applicant (adoptive parent, guardian or adopted person 18+)

How to fill out CIT 0012 adoptee's application, Part 2, step by step

1 Sections 1 to 3: The application

Give the adopted person's names as on the adoption order, choose English or French service, note any special needs, and enter the date of the letter that approved Part 1.

2 Section 4: Applicant's information

Say who is applying, then give that person's name, residential and mailing addresses, phone numbers and email. The form says giving an email authorizes IRCC to send all correspondence there.

3 Section 5: Adoption details

Enter when and where the adoption was completed, the adopted person's age at the time, whether they're related to an adoptive parent, and, if they live outside Canada, whether they'll move to Canada once citizenship is granted.

4 Section 6: Details of the adopted person

Give their names at birth, on official documents and any other names, their native-language name, birth details, gender, marital status, height and eye colour, and citizenships and passports. Then add biological family members if known, where the adopted person lives, every address for the past 10 years, and what they've been doing in that time.

5 Sections 7 and 8: Adoptive parents

Give each adoptive parent's names, other names used, country and date of birth and marital status, plus their address and contact details if they differ from section 4.

6 Sections 9 to 12: Certificate, help and signatures

Choose a paper or electronic citizenship certificate and where a paper one should go, say whether you're using a representative or had help, answer the passport questions, and sign the declaration with the city and date. An adopted child 14 or older signs too.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Sending Part 2 before Part 1 is approved. The form says you must have that confirmation first.
  • Leaving gaps in the 10-year address or activity history. The form says not to.
  • Using a P.O. box in the address history. The form asks for street addresses only.
  • Choosing an electronic certificate without giving an email address.
  • Forgetting the second signature when the adopted child is 14 or older, or not signing and dating the form at all. An unsigned application is returned.

After you fill it out

Print the PDF, check every page, and sign inside the white box in black ink. Have a child 14 or older sign too.

Include a copy of the final adoption order and the other documents the application guide lists, and mail it as the guide explains.

Keep a copy of the full application and the Part 1 approval letter in your FileIt vault.

Fill out CIT 0012 adoptee's application, Part 2 online with FileIt

  1. Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
  2. Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 307 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
  3. Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
  4. Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

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CIT 0012 adoptee's application, Part 2: frequently asked questions

What is the difference between CIT 0010 and CIT 0012?

CIT 0010 is Part 1, where IRCC confirms that an adoptive parent was a Canadian citizen. CIT 0012 is Part 2, with the details of the adoption and the adopted person, sent only after Part 1 is approved.

Who signs CIT 0012?

An adoptive parent, the legal guardian, or the adopted person if 18 or older signs the declaration. The form says children 14 years of age or older must also sign.

Do I need to list the adopted person's biological family?

The form asks for details of each biological family member, including both biological parents and biological brothers and sisters, if known. Use a separate sheet if you need more space.

How far back does the address history go?

The form asks for every address where the adopted person stayed or lived in the past 10 years, without P.O. boxes. The personal history also covers the time since age 13 if that's longer ago.

Can I get an electronic citizenship certificate?

Yes. Section 9 offers a paper or an electronic certificate. The form says that for an electronic one, your application must include an email address.

Can FileIt fill out CIT 0012?

Yes. FileIt prints your answers on IRCC's official PDF for you to review, sign by hand and mail. FileIt doesn't submit anything to IRCC.

Official sources

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-10-19.

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