Citizenship by evidence of citizenship is available to foreign people who were born in Canada and had at least one parent who was a citizen at the time of their birth, whether they were biological or legal.
Put another way, even people who were born outside of Canada can become citizens of Canada. However, it’s crucial to understand that meeting certain requirements is necessary in order to be eligible to receive a Canadian citizenship certificate, which is proof of citizenship for foreign nationals.
Note: Being a direct descendant (child) of a Canadian citizen is a requirement for eligibility for evidence of citizenship as a foreign national.
Put another way, if your grandma or another member of your extended family is a Canadian citizen, for example, you are not qualified to get evidence of citizenship. If you were born abroad and were adopted by a Canadian citizen, you are also not eligible for evidence of citizenship.
Evidence of eligibility
The process of confirming a person’s eligibility for citizenship evidence involves completing the relevant Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) application.
Note: Foreign nationals who meet the requirements can apply for proof of citizenship at any time, regardless of whether their parent is still alive or has died away.
The IRCC will then ask for proof that at least one of your parents was a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth, which can be submitted using any of the following papers that belong to your parent(s).
- a record of birth
- A card of citizenship for Canada
- A certificate of citizenship from Canada
If one of your parents is a citizen of Canada and was born in Canada on or after February 15, 1977, you can apply online for proof of citizenship. This also holds true if your parent’s citizenship was awarded on or after April 17, 2009. If neither of the dates apply to you, you must submit a written application to the IRCC.
There is a $75 application fee for citizenship verification in either case. Once approved by the IRCC, successful applicants will get a certificate of Canadian citizenship. As of this writing, the department’s most recent estimates for processing times indicate that this procedure may take up to 10 months.
Why bother acquiring documentation of citizenship?
Upon becoming a citizen of Canada, you are eligible for all advantages now offered to Canadian citizens.
Access to a Canadian passport, for instance, is one example. Henley & Partners earlier this year ranked the Canadian passport as the seventh strongest in the world based on its holders’ ability to enter 186 countries without a visa.
For further information on the advantages of being a citizen of Canada, such as the opportunity to get a social insurance number (SIN) and the capacity to vote in federal elections, click this link.
