Applications for proof of citizenship are now being processed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in as little as three months, with application wait times having been slashed from even pre-pandemic levels.
Some foreign nationals can now anticipate hearing back sooner regarding their citizenship application if they have at least one Canadian citizen parent, either biological or legal.
What is proof of citizenship?
Children born overseas to Canadian parents are not automatically granted Canadian citizenship under the Citizenship Act of Canada.
Rather, in order to verify their citizenship, young kids must petition for proof of citizenship and, if granted, obtain a Canadian citizenship certificate. The only two documents that Passport Canada accepts as proof of citizenship are this citizenship certificate and a Canadian birth certificate, making them essential when submitting an application for a Canadian passport.
A person can begin this process at any point in their life, regardless of whether their Canadian parent is still living or has passed away.
Note: This technique is not available to adoptive children of Canadian parents who were adopted after birth. To become citizens of Canada, they will have to take alternative paths.
New changes to citizenship law
The Superior Court of Justice in Ontario declared on December 19, 2023, that the second-generation citizenship cut-off law in Canada was unconstitutional and needed to be changed.
This rule would prevent Canadians who were born overseas from automatically transferring their citizenship to their offspring if those offspring were born overseas as well.
The Superior Court of Ontario decided that this law separated citizens into two categories: those who were born in the nation and those who were not. The former group can automatically pass on their citizenship to their offspring, while the latter cannot. In addition, the court decided that the federal government had six months to change the Citizenship Act and remove the legislation.
One month was allotted to the federal government.
Benefits of Canadian citizenship
Canadian citizenship brings a number of advantages . Canadians have protected rights and a permanent legal status in the country, access to social systems and benefits (including those relating to healthcare and education at greatly reduced costs) voting rights within Canada’s democracy, and the ability to hold political office.
In addition, Canadian citizens benefit from a Canadian passport (one of the most recognized in the world), have the ability to sponsor loved ones to visit and even settle in Canada, and can usually pass on their status to their children.
Canadian citizens are also able to hold dual citizenship with other nations who have similar provisions.
To learn more about proof of citizenship click here. To calculate citizenship eligibility, find our dedicated tool here.
