Obtaining Canadian citizenship if your parent is a Canadian

Many individuals aspire to settle permanently in Canada in terms of either settling as a Canadian permanent resident or ultimately as a Canadian citizen. One of the easiest ways in obtaining the latter applies to those individuals who have at least one Canadian parent which helps potential applicants “skip” the process of applying for permanent residence. In context, one can obtain Canadian citizenship through this process although you were born outside of Canada or have never been to Canada.

The amendment on the Canadian Citizenship Act in 2009 includes that: if you have a parent who was born in Canada, you are a Canadian citizen by descent. This applies to the first-generation individuals born abroad. Thus, if your mother or father was born in Canada, you are eligible to claim Canadian citizenship.

However, it is important to note some exceptions. Your own children are generally not Canadian citizens if they are second-generation individuals born abroad. But as a Canadian citizen, you can still sponsor your children to become Canadian permanent residents if they are under the age of 22. Correspondingly, you can also sponsor your husband or wife, or common-law partner at any time regardless of age.

In order to claim Canadian citizenship by descent, you will need to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship in order to practice and assert your Citizenship rights which involves: moving to Canada, getting a Canadian passport, working in Canada, or attending school in Canada.

Once a Certificate of Citizenship is obtained, you are still free to live anywhere in the world or in your current country of residence. However, if you plan to eventually sponsor your family members as permanent residents of Canada, you must plan to move to Canada at the time when their permanent resident visas are issued.

There are various benefits upon acquiring Canadian citizenship. It ranges from access to some of the world’s top schools, the ability to travel with a Canadian passport, to practice your voting rights on elections, and to gain access from social privileges most notably the Canada’s health care system.