Maple News reports that applicants for Canadian citizenship must provide a comprehensive travel history that spans their entire lifetime— not just the past five years. This requirement has been affirmed through recent correspondence between immigration lawyers and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), emphasizing the importance of full transparency in citizenship applications.
When submitting the Application for Canadian Citizenship (form CIT 002), individuals must list every country or territory they have visited since birth, regardless of the duration of the stay. Even brief stopovers, such as airport layovers of only a few hours, must be documented. The application must also include the immigration status held during each visit—be it visitor, student, worker, or any other classification, including options for specifying unique statuses using the “other” category.
Failing to provide a complete and accurate travel record can lead to delays or even complications in your application process. As such, IRCC encourages applicants to take extra care in compiling a thorough travel history, inclusive of entry and exit dates, as well as the status under which they entered each country.
To make this process manageable, Maple News recommends several strategies. Reviewing current and expired passports is a logical starting point, as entry and exit stamps can serve as helpful references. Applicants can also search their email inbox for confirmations of electronic travel authorizations (eTAs), usually required for travel to countries with visa exemptions.
Other helpful resources include archival airline bookings and travel itineraries, which often capture layovers and overnight stays. Similarly, records from hotel bookings, credit card transactions, social media posts, and even digital photo libraries can help jog your memory and verify dates.
Applicants are encouraged to cross-reference multiple sources to reconstruct a complete and accurate travel history. Thorough documentation not only ensures compliance with IRCC requirements but also contributes to a smoother and more efficient application process.
Maple News advises all applicants to prepare early and be diligent in gathering records. While the process may be time-consuming, the effort is crucial in securing Canadian citizenship without unnecessary hurdles.