new Canadian citizenship rules affect Canadians living abroa

New rules state that children born abroad to Canadian citizens will only be Canadian if one of the parents was born in Canada or one of the parents is a naturalized Canadian citizen. There are implications also for citizenship through adoption.

See

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenshi ... enship.asp

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ ... ional/home

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_n ... by_descent

Canadian citizens by descent will still be able to sponsor their non-Canadian (dependent) children for permanent residence in Canada.

The 3 year residence period for naturalisation is waived for children under 18 of a Canadian citizen.

It also appears that they have decided that April 17 should be Commencement Day.

JAJ wrote:The 3 year residence period for naturalisation is waived for children under 18 of a Canadian citizen.

Does this really mean the parent can apply for the child's citizenship as soon as the child has PR? The GIC web site seems to suggest this...
http://www.cic.gc.ca/ENGLISH/citizenshi ... bility.asp


While we are on this topic, the baby born in an airplane transiting over Canada (see article http://www.calgaryherald.com/Life/Mile+ ... story.html ) is a Canadian citizen and its children will be Canadian under the new law (no matter where they are born).

Directive/2004/38/EC wrote: Does this really mean the parent can apply for the child's citizenship as soon as the child has PR? The GIC web site seems to suggest this...
http://www.cic.gc.ca/ENGLISH/citizenshi ... bility.asp

It appears so, certainly after moving to Canada. It may also be the case that child doesn't need to be living in Canada, just holding PR status.

Also, a child with PR can keep PR indefinitely while accompanying a Canadian parent.

We'll only see this develop in the post-April 17 situation. I suspect most Canadians affected will not understand this option.

While we are on this topic, the baby born in an airplane transiting over Canada (see article http://www.calgaryherald.com/Life/Mile+ ... story.html ) is a Canadian citizen and its children will be Canadian under the new law (no matter where they are born).

Baby is lucky ... could have been born over high seas, or could have been born over a country with a different view of the matter than Canada's.

The baby was also quick. You don't fly over too much of Canada on the way to the US east coast. :-)