Canadian citizenship rules change for those born outside of Canada

As of April 17, 2009, Canada's Citizenship Act will be amended.  The new law now limits Canadian citizenship to the first generation born abroad to Canadian citizens.

All individuals born in Canada are granted citizenship, as are people born abroad who undertake the Canadian citizenship process and are approved.

Previously, individuals who were born abroad to Canadian parents were granted Canadian citizenship and would apply for a citizenship certificate as evidence.  The new law alters this.

One of the elements of the April 17 amendments to the Citizenship Act restricts the granting of citizenship for children born abroad to Canadian parents.  Now, only the first generation of children born abroad to Canadian citizens will be accorded Canadian citizenship.

Once the law comes into effect, children born abroad to Canadian parents in the second or subsequent generations will not become Canadian citizens automatically at birth.  Moreover, those who are born abroad in the second or subsequent generations before the new law is implemented, who are not already Canadian citizens, will not automatically become a citizen under the new law.