Canada processes citizenship proof faster than pre-pandemic rates, which can make decisions in as little as three months. Wait times have significantly decreased, even more quickly than before the outbreak.
Foreign nationals who have at least one Canadian-citizen biological or legal parent benefit from this improvement. These people can now anticipate receiving their Canadian citizenship applications more quickly.
Understanding Proof of Citizenship
The Citizenship Act of Canada states that children born outside of Canada to Canadian parents do not automatically become citizens of Canada. These kids will need to apply for proof of citizenship, and if approved, they will get a certificate of Canadian citizenship. The two records that Passport Canada accepts as evidence of Canadian citizenship are this certificate and a Canadian birth certificate. For this reason, acquiring a citizenship certificate is essential for anyone wishing to apply for a passport to Canada.
Regardless of whether a person’s Canadian parent is still living, they can apply for proof of citizenship at any point in their life.
Notably, children adopted by Canadian parents after birth do not qualify to apply for citizenship documentation in this way. They cannot become citizens of Canada without going through other legal procedures.
Changes to the citizenship law have been introduced
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled on December 19, 2023, that the Canadian statute restricting second-generation citizenship was unconstitutional and needed to be changed.
This law prevented Canadians who were born outside of the country from immediately transferring their citizenship to their offspring.
According to the Ontario Superior Court, this provision gave Canadians born abroad and those born in Canada different treatment when it came to citizenship. The court emphasized that, in contrast to Canadians born overseas, Canadians born here could automatically pass on their citizenship to their offspring. Consequently, the court granted the federal government six months to abolish and amend the Citizenship Act to address this inequality.
The administration could have challenged the court’s ruling for a month, but it chose not to. Now that the federal government has chosen not to challenge the Ontario court’s decision, changes are anticipated, though it is still unclear how this ruling will affect people seeking Canadian citizenship by descent.
Advantages of Canadian citizenship
Many advantages come with being a citizen of Canada. In addition to having permanent residency and protected rights, Canadian citizens also benefit from a number of social programs and services, including much lower-cost healthcare and education. They can run for political office and have the right to vote in Canada’s democratic procedures.
Additionally, Canadian nationals can apply for a Canadian passport, one of the most widely accepted passports in the world. They can even assist family members in relocating to Canada by sponsoring their visits. Furthermore, citizens of Canada usually have the choice to give their citizenship to their offspring.
Additionally, dual citizenship allows Canadian nationals to keep their citizenship in other nations that accept similar arrangements.
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