Canadian Citizenship Rules to Change

Citizenship and Immigration Canada has announced pending changes to the Citizenship Act, which are expected to be implemented by or before April 17 2009. The rules will reinstate citizenship for some who had previously lost it and grants citizenship to others for the first time.

This law will reinstate citizenship to the following persons who may have lost it due to the previous laws:

• Those who became citizens when Canada's citizenship act took effect on January 1, 1947, including those born in Canada prior to 1947; war brides;and other British subjects who had lived in Canada for at least five years before 1947 and who then lost citizenship;
• Thoise who were born in Canada or who became Canadian citizens on or after January 1, 1947, and who then lost their citizenship; and
  
• Those who were born outside Canada, on or after January 1, 1947, in the first generation born abroad, to a parent who was a Canadian citizen at the time of the birth.

Persons who didn't apply for citizenship and who were born outside Canada on or after January 1, 1947, in the first generation born abroad to a parent who was a Canadian citizen at the time of the birth may also become eligible to obtain Canadian citizenship under these new rules. Also, persons adopted by Canadians on or after January 1 1947 will be eligible to become citizens without having to apply for permanent resident status initially.