Citizeo
Pathway

Canadian Citizenship — Born in Canada

Canada Citizenship

Could you qualify?

Answer a few quick questions to see which global citizenship and residency pathways fit your background. It's free, and takes just a few minutes.

See if you're a match →
At a glance

This citizenship pathway is for people who may already be citizens because they were born in Canada or in another qualifying birth situation connected to Canada. It generally turns on birthplace, birth date, and the parents' citizenship or immigration status at the time.

Type
Citizenship by birth
Who it covers
People born in Canada or another qualifying birth situation
Core records
Birth records plus parents' status at the time
What to know
Usually a strong right if the facts and records line up

Summary

Canada applies jus soli — citizenship by birth on Canadian soil — as its default rule. Since the Canadian Citizenship Act came into force on 1 January 1947, anyone born in Canada has automatically been a Canadian citizen from the moment of birth. This is codified today in section 3(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-29).

The parents' nationality, immigration status, or length of residence in Canada are irrelevant. The only practical exception is children born in Canada to accredited foreign diplomats (section 3(2) of the Citizenship Act), who do not acquire Canadian citizenship at birth.

If you were born in Canada, you already hold Canadian citizenship. You may never have claimed it with a citizenship certificate or Canadian passport, but the status is yours by right.

Eligibility

You are already a Canadian citizen if all of the following are true:

If you were born in Canada before 1947, your status turns on the Citizenship Act's transitional provisions — you were likely a British subject at birth who became a Canadian citizen on 1 January 1947 if you were still resident in Canada at that date. Contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for a determination.

What This Route Allows

This route can help confirm or document citizenship in Canada when the citizenship-creating facts named above are proven. For many people in this category, the main work is evidence: civil records, family-link records, prior citizenship records, and any registration or restoration paperwork needed to show the claim.

What This Route Is Not

This is not a shortcut around documentation. Even when the citizenship claim is based on a right, you still need records that prove each required fact and family link.

Next Steps

  1. Locate your Canadian birth certificate. Long-form certificates issued by the provincial or territorial vital statistics office are the strongest evidence. Order a certified copy if you don't have one.
  2. Apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate (optional). A Canadian Citizenship Certificate (issued via Form CIT 0001) is the definitive federal proof of citizenship, useful for establishing status without a passport. The fee is CAD 75.
  3. Apply for a Canadian passport. A provincial/territorial long-form birth certificate is accepted as proof of citizenship for a first adult passport. The 10-year adult passport fee is CAD 160.
  4. If you were born abroad to a Canadian parent, this pathway does not apply — your route is citizenship by descent under section 3(1)(b) of the Citizenship Act. See the descent pathway for details.
  5. Dual citizenship is permitted. Canada has explicitly allowed dual/multiple citizenship since 15 February 1977, so claiming Canadian citizenship does not require you to surrender another nationality.

Sources