Canadian Citizenship Options for Children Born Outside Canada
Canadian Citizenship for Minors Applying Born Outside Canada
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is every child born outside Canada
to a Canadian parent automatically Canadian?
Not always. The answer depends on when the child was
born, how the Canadian parent acquired citizenship and, for certain children
born on or after December 15, 2025, whether a Canadian parent born abroad meets
the 1,095-day substantial-connection requirement.
2. What should I apply for if my child
is already a Canadian citizen?
If the child acquired citizenship automatically, you
generally apply for a citizenship certificate to obtain official proof
of the child’s Canadian citizenship.
You do not normally submit a grant-of-citizenship
application for someone who is already Canadian.
3. What if my child was born abroad and
is not already a Canadian citizen?
Depending on the circumstances, the child may first
need to obtain permanent resident status and then apply for a grant of Canadian
citizenship.
IRCC specifically recognizes that a child who does
not acquire citizenship by descent because the Canadian parent does not meet
the applicable physical-presence requirement may obtain PR status and later
apply for citizenship.
4. Does a permanent resident child need
1,095 days in Canada before applying for citizenship?
Not always.
A permanent resident minor applying under subsection
5(2) because they have a Canadian parent, or a parent applying for
citizenship at the same time, does not need to meet the 1,095-day physical
presence requirement.
Different requirements apply to a Minor 5(1)
application.
5. Does a child have to take the
Canadian citizenship test?
Minor applicants do not need to pass the citizenship
test or meet the adult language requirement.
6. Does a child need to take the Oath
of Citizenship?
A minor who is 14 to 17 years old and is
granted citizenship generally needs to take the Oath of Citizenship. Younger
children are not required to take the oath.
7. Can a parent apply for citizenship
on behalf of a minor child?
Yes. A parent or legal guardian can generally apply
on behalf of an eligible minor.
Which minor application process applies depends on
whether the child has a Canadian parent or a parent who is applying for
citizenship at the same time.
8. Is the process different for a child
adopted outside Canada?
Yes. A child born abroad and adopted by a Canadian
citizen is not automatically Canadian simply because of the adoption.
Canada has a separate citizenship process for internationally adopted persons, and the requirements depend on factors including the adoption, the Canadian parent’s citizenship history and, in some cases, the parent’s physical presence in Canada.
A child born outside Canada may have several possible
pathways to Canadian citizenship. The correct process depends on whether the
child is already a Canadian citizen, is a permanent resident who needs
to apply for citizenship, or was adopted outside Canada.
The first question is whether the child acquired
Canadian citizenship at birth. A child born abroad before December 15, 2025 is likely already Canadian if at least one parent was a Canadian citizen when
the child was born. For children born on or after December 15, 2025,
citizenship generally passes if the Canadian parent was born in Canada, became
a naturalized Canadian before the child’s birth, or was also born abroad but
accumulated at least 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada before the
child’s birth.
If the child is already Canadian, the family normally
applies for a citizenship certificate as proof of citizenship rather
than applying for a grant of citizenship.
If the child is not already Canadian, the child may
need to become a permanent resident first. A permanent resident minor
who has a Canadian parent, or whose parent is applying for citizenship at the
same time, can generally apply under the Minor 5(2) process. Unlike most
adult applicants, a Minor 5(2) applicant does not need 1,095 days of physical
presence, does not need to meet the citizenship language requirement, and does
not take the citizenship test.
Children adopted outside Canada follow separate
citizenship rules and may qualify through the special citizenship process for
adopted persons.
Determining the correct pathway before applying is important because proof of citizenship, a minor citizenship grant and citizenship through international adoption are different applications with different eligibility requirements.
