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 people can now anticipate hearing back sooner on 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 evidence of citizenship and, if granted, get a Canadian citizenship certificate. The only two papers 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 procedure 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 statute 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.
The federal government had one month to file an appeal against this ruling, but they decided not to. The implications of this judgment for applicants seeking citizenship by ancestry in Canada are not yet apparent, but since the federal government decided not to appeal the Ontario court case, changes are expected. CIC News will keep up with the story as it progresses.
Benefits of Canadian citizenship
Being a citizen of Canada has several benefits. In addition to having permanent residency and protected rights, Canadians can occupy political office and have access to social services and benefits, such as free or significantly discounted healthcare and education, as well as voting rights in the nation’s democracy.
Furthermore, holders of a Canadian passport—one of the most widely recognized in the world—may sponsor family members to travel to and reside in Canada, and they can typically transfer their status to their offspring.
Citizens of Canada are also permitted to possess dual citizenship with citizens of other countries that have comparable laws.
Click this link to find out more about citizenship proof. Use this specialized calculator to determine your eligibility for citizenship.
