Free Sworn Principal Residence Attestation Template

In Canada, a principal residence is the home you primarily live in during the year. That said, property doesn’t need to be occupied year-round to qualify. The property doesn’t need to be occupied year-round, but must be ordinarily inhabited at some point throughout the year.

Under Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) rules for tax purposes, a property can qualify as your principal residence for a given year if:

• You, your spouse or common-law partner, or your child ordinarily inhabited it during the year,
• You own the property, either individually or jointly with another person; and
• You designate it as your principal residence for tax purposes.

A principal residence can include the following:

• A house
• A condominium
• A cottage
• A townhouse
• A mobile home
• A housing unit in a duplex or apartment building

You may need a Sworn Principal Residence Attestation in the following situations:

• Supporting documentation related to a principal residence exemption claim
• Responding to a city audit related to property occupancy
• Responding to government or tax authority inquiries regarding residency
• Applying for a first-time home buyer rebate
• Confirming occupancy for provincial speculation or foreign buyer tax compliance
• Transferring property between related parties
• Confirming occupancy requirements for rebate, exemption, or compliance programs
• Declaring a property as your primary residence for municipal vacancy tax programs
• Confirming residency for estate administration or probate matters
• Proving to a lender that a property will be owner-occupied
• Refinancing or changing mortgage classifications
• Dealing with a condominium board or housing authority

Always confirm the exact requirements of the requesting authority, as some programs require a specific, prescribed form rather than a general Attestation.

A Sworn Principal Residence Attestation should include the following information:

Your Information

• Your full legal name
• Your date of birth
• Your current residential address
• The date you began living at the property

Details About the Property

• The property’s municipal address
• A legal description of the property (if required)
• A statement confirming that the property is your principal residence
• Confirmation that you ordinarily inhabit the property
• The time period during which the property has been your principal residence
• Whether you own the property solely or jointly
• The reason the declaration is being made (e.g., vacancy tax compliance, lender requirements, property transfer, etc.)

Commissioning

• Your signature
• Date and location of signing
• Signature and stamp of a notary public or commissioner of oaths

Your Sworn Principal Residence Attestation must be commissioned by an authorized official, like a notary public or commissioner of oaths. This is a necessary step, and without it, your Attestation isn’t valid.

You can meet with a notary online to have your Attestation commissioned in 7 minutes, from anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection.

How Commissioning Your Attestation Works

You can commission your Attestation online through a secure video appointment. During your online notary appointment, the following will take place:

• You’ll present a piece of valid, government-issued ID to verify your identity.
• You’ll swear or affirm that the contents of your Attestation are true.
• You’ll confirm that you understand the document and are signing voluntarily.
• You’ll sign and date the Attestation while a notary witnesses in real time.
• A notary signs and applies their official stamp or seal.

To learn more about the commissioning process, check out our guide.

Note: Knowingly providing false information may be considered perjury under Canada’s Criminal Code.