Difference between revisions of "Citizenship Grants: How to Become a Canadian Citizen (17:V)"

'''Note:''' It is anticipated that the minimum age requirements will soon change.  Users of this service are advised to check the IRCC website to see what the current requirements are for minors.

The four-year residency requirement does not apply to children under the age of 18. There is no residency requirement for children applying under s 5(2). Parents who are citizens may apply for citizenship for their child as soon as the child becomes a permanent resident (s 5(2)). Adoptive parents who are citizens may bypass the permanent residency requirement, and may make an application for citizenship on behalf of their child directly (s 5.1(1)). However, in order to do so the adoption must “create a genuine relationship of parent and child”. Additionally, this direct route to citizenship is not available beyond the first generation of Canadians born or adopted abroad (i.e. the parents must derive their own citizenship by being born in Canada or through naturalization).

A legal guardian other than a parent may apply for citizenship on behalf of a minor, but the application will succeed only if the child has a parent who is currently a citizen, or the child meets the requirements of the exception for stateless applicants in s 5(5).

Children are not required to write the citizenship test, but children who are 14 and over are required to take the oath. If a child turns 18 before the end of the application process, he or she cannot be granted citizenship as a minor, even though they were under the age of 18 at the time of application. They must submit an adult application of citizenship. Stateless applicants under s 5(5) have until age 23 to complete the application process.