Section 9 — Citizenship Act: Renunciation of citizenship

Subject to subsection (2.1), a citizen may, on application, renounce his citizenship if he is a citizen of a country other than Canada or, if his application is accepted, will become a citizen of a country other than Canada; is not the subject of a declaration by the Governor in Council made pursuant to section 20; is not a minor; is not prevented from understanding the significance of renouncing citizenship by reason of the person having a mental disability; and does not reside in Canada. The Minister may, in the Minister’s discretion, waive on compassionate grounds the requirements of paragraph (1)(d) or (e). No application for renunciation may be made if the Minister has provided the applicant with a notice referred to in subsection 10(3) or has commenced an action under subsection 10.1(1) for a declaration in respect of the applicant until the Minister provides the applicant with his or her decision under subsection 10(5) or a final judgment has been rendered in that action, as the case may be. If an application for renunciation is made and the Minister subsequently provides the applicant with a notice referred to in subsection 10(3) or commences an action under subsection 10.1(1) for a declaration in respect of the applicant, the processing of that application is suspended until the Minister provides the applicant with his or her decision under subsection 10(5) or a final judgment has been rendered in that action, as the case may be. If an application under subsection (1) is approved by the Minister, the Minister shall issue a certificate of renunciation to the applicant and the applicant ceases to be a citizen after the expiration of the day on which the certificate is issued or any later day that the certificate may specify.