Canada announces new Citizenship Law effective April 17, 2009

A New Citizenship Law came into effect for Canadian effective from 17th April, 2009. This new law simplifies the earlier one. As it came into effect, it restores citizenship to many people who never had it or lost it due to previous laws. This Law also allows people adopted outside Canada by Canadian parents between January 1, 1947 and February 14, 1977 to apply for a grant of citizenship.
Under the old rules, it was possible for Canadians to pass on their citizenship to endless generations born outside Canada. To protect the value of Canadian citizenship for the future, the new law limits—with a few exceptions— citizenship by descent to one generation born outside Canada.

• Children born outside Canada on or after April 17, 2009, will only be Canadian at birth if they are born to a Canadian parent who was either born in Canada or became a Canadian citizen by immigrating to Canada as a permanent resident and subsequently being granted citizenship (also called naturalization).

• If children are born outside Canada while Parent are working outside Canada for the Canadian government, a Canadian province, or serving outside Canada with the Canadian Forces, children will be Canadian. (This exception does not apply to Canadians employed as locally-engaged staff outside the country.)

• Parent may sponsor their children to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents, if parent and children meet the normal requirements for sponsorship. After children become permanent residents, parent can immediately apply for a grant of citizenship on their children’s behalf if they are under 18. (These children are not subject to the regular three-year residency requirement.)

• The new law automatically restores or gives citizenship to many who lost it or never had it due to previous laws. For instance, certain people who became Canadian citizens on or after January 1, 1947, when the first Citizenship Act took effect, and who then lost it, now have their status restored retroactively to the date they lost it.

• Others, who have never been Canadians, but who are part of the first generation born outside Canada to a Canadian parent, became Canadians under the new law. Their citizenship is retroactive to their date of birth.