Canadian Citizenship

Proof of Citizenship: When You Need a Citizenship Certificate Not every Canadian citizen got that status by taking an oath. Many were born abroad to a Canadian parent, and some don’t realize they’re citizens at all. For these people, the key document isn’t a grant of citizenship but proof of it: a citizenship certificate. Who needs a certificate People born in Canada usually prove their citizenship with a provincial birth certificate. People who became citizens through the oath receive a citizenship certificate at the end of the process. People born outside Canada to a Canadian parent are often citizens from birth by descent, depending on the rules in force at the time of their birth and their parent’s own situation. They don’t apply to “become” citizens. They apply for a citizenship certificate that confirms the status they already have. This certificate is usually needed before they can get a first Canadian passport. The first-generation rule and recent changes For ma…