• Posted 14-Sep-2020

New Definition of Parent for Canadian Citizenship

The Canadian governments definition of the parent has changed to allow certain parents to pass on their Canadian citizenship to their children who were born outside Canada. People who will benefit from this decision include children of LGBTQ2 + couples as well as couples with fertility issues. This move is towards the development of modern diversified families in Canada.

Until that amendment, children born to Canadians outside Canada automatically earned citizenship only if there was a biological link between the parent and the child or the parent gave birth to the child. However as per new rules, the non-biological parents can pass on their Canadian citizenship to children born outside Canada if they are the child's legal parent at birth, they will be considered 'valid' parents if their name appears on the child's original birth certificate or other applicable birth documents (surrogacy arrangements, court orders, hospital records, among others). Minors, individuals under 18 years of age in Canada, can also request an application for proof of citizenship on their own behalf.