Proving Canadian citizenship has specific eligibility conditions, and only certain proof is acceptable.
Canadian citizenship eligibility implies that at least one of your biological or legal parents held Canadian citizenship at the time you were born, even though you were born outside Canada.
Additionally, the Canadian government considers you a Canadian citizen only after you submit proof of Canadian citizenship application. You must demonstrate this proof by providing a Canadian citizenship certificate.
It is possible to apply for Canadian citizenship at any stage, and whether your parent is alive or deceased won’t impact this process. Notably, Canada restricts citizenship based on descent to only the first generation having their birth record outside the country and born to a parent holding Canadian citizenship.
Moreover, Passport Canada accepts only two relevant documents to prove Canadian citizenship status. The first is the Canadian birth certificate, and the second is the Canadian citizenship certificate.
The application process for obtaining the Canadian citizenship certificate
Aspiring applicants must visit IRCCs official website to download the application and pay around $75 as an application fee. IRCC insists the applicants demonstrate with concrete proof that their parents held Canadian citizenship. The department accepts the following evidence; they’re as follows:
- Parents hold birth certificates.
- They must also have a Canadian citizenship card.
- The parents must also possess a certificate of Canadian certificate.
Furthermore, the online application applies to those individuals who had their Canadian parent born in Canada either on February 15, 1977, or, after it. Another case would be if they held Canadian citizenship on or with effect from April 17, 2009. If this doesn’t apply to your parent, you must fill out the paper application and submit it accordingly.
Once IRCC receives your application, they will thoroughly review it and check the processing fee. If everything with your application appears complete, the department will send you an “Acknowledgement of Receipt”. Furthermore, the department will verify and approve your application. Post-application approval, they will send you a Canadian citizenship certificate.
The citizenship proof document enables an individual to obtain a Canadian Passport. It further provides the opportunity to vote in elections and acquire the various benefits and privileges associated with being a Canadian citizenship holder. Hence, the citizenship certificate is helpful in proving the Canadian citizenship of an individual.
