Canada expedited Proof of Citizenship applications’ processing, compared to the pre-pandemic standards. The processing time is not more than three months. As a result, the waiting times have immensely dropped since the pre-pandemic phase.
Presently, those with a biological or legal parent with Canadian citizenship can also expect to have a final decision on their citizenship application.
Canada expedited Proof of Citizenship applications’ processing – What is Proof of Citizenship?
According to the Citizenship Act of Canada, children who were born to parents in Canada abroad can’t acquire citizenship in Canada by default. In addition, they will need to apply for proof of citizenship, and if the process is successful, they will receive a certificate confirming their citizenship.
Passport Canada uses the following two documents as a means of their citizenship verification:
- Canadian Birth Certificate
- Citizenship Certificate
These are crucial for those applying for a Canadian passport. Moreover, an individual can go through this process at any stage in life, irrespective of whether their Canadian parent is alive or deceased.
Children who were adopted by Canadian parents after their birth do not qualify for the above process. Hence, they must search for other alternatives to attain Canadian citizenship.
Latest modifications in the citizenship law
Last year on December 19, the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario deemed Canada’s law on second-generational citizenship cut-off as unconstitutional. Hence, it stated that its amendment was compulsory.
According to this law, Canadians who were born abroad will also not be able to transfer their citizenship to their children by default, in the case of children born abroad. Ontario’s Superior Court stated that this rule developed a differentiation in the statuses of Canadians born inside Canada and those born outside the country. This means the former group could immediately transfer their citizenship while the latter group couldn’t do so. Furthermore, Canada stated that the federal government had to amend the Citizenship Act within six months by canceling the above law.
The federal government had one month to appeal this decision. However, it chose the other way around. Also, it is uncertain how would this law affect applicants seeking Canadian citizenship by descent. There are changes that are expected after the decision of the federal government to not appeal for Ontario’s court ruling.
Canadian citizenship’s advantages
Canadian citizens tend to enjoy a variety of privileges and rights, including protected legal status, access to social services, voting rights, eligibility to hold political office, and other benefits. These benefits include healthcare and education at subsidized rates.
Furthermore, Canadian citizenship offers the advantage of possessing a highly esteemed passport globally and sponsorship rights for loved ones so that they can visit and settle in Canada. Moreover, they have the opportunity to pass on their citizenship to their children.
Lastly, they also have the flexibility to hold dual citizenship with other countries that permit it.
If you wish to know more about the Proof of Citizenship application, connect with our immigration experts at MakeHomeCanada. Our considerable experience in the immigration field can help you. You may write to us [email protected].
