𝗜𝗙 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗡 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗗𝗔, 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗭𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣

                                                                         

Medicine Hat, Alberta

Certainly, Donald Trump has made many of us living in America anxious, unsettled, unsure about the future and I'm not just speaking about migrants.  Even for those of us who've never had our citizenship questioned, this country just doesn't feel the same with the phrase "liberty and justice for all" having definitely lost meaning.  That deterioration of democratic principles has made me think more and more about my own personal safety net, the fact that through my mother's birth in Medicine Hat, Alberta, I qualify for Canadian citizenship.  I only have to move there.  Of course, at age 77, it's a bit late in life for me to change countries.

As the political climate in the U.S. grows more uncertain, many Americans are exploring their options, including the possibility of Canadian citizenship. For some, this isn’t just a dream, it’s already a legal reality.

Thanks to changes made to Canada’s Citizenship Act in 2009 and 2015, many people born outside of Canada to a Canadian parent are automatically considered Canadian citizens by descent, even if they’ve never lived in Canada or held a Canadian passport. That means if your mother or father was born in Canada, you’re likely already a Canadian citizen. This applies even if your Canadian parent left the country as a child, married someone from another country, or became a citizen elsewhere.

But to officially claim those rights, including living or working in Canada, getting a Canadian passport, or accessing public healthcare and education, you must apply for a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). If one of your parents was born or naturalized in Canada before you were born, you’re generally eligible. You’ll need your parent’s Canadian birth certificate or naturalization record, plus your own proof of identity and proof of relationship. You can apply from outside Canada, there’s no need to move unless you plan to sponsor family members for Canadian permanent residency.

Under current law, Canadian citizenship by descent is typically limited to the first generation born abroad. That means your children likely won’t inherit citizenship if they were born outside Canada. However, this could change soon. New legislation recently introduced in Canada’s parliament aims to extend citizenship to second-generation (and even later-generation) Canadians born abroad. While this law is still under review, the government has introduced an Interim Measure, allowing second-generation individuals to apply now for citizenship by grant.

If you’re a Canadian citizen, you can sponsor your children under age 22 for permanent residency, as well as your spouse or common-law partner, regardless of age. The sponsorship process usually takes six to twelve months, and you’ll need to move to Canada once your family’s visas are approved. Importantly, becoming a Canadian citizen does not affect your U.S. citizenship. Canada permits dual citizenship, and there are no tax or legal complications for Americans who obtain Canadian citizenship.

Immigration lawyers in both Canada and the U.S. can help guide you through the application process, even if your Canadian parent is deceased or you’re missing key documents. Many have successfully helped clients obtain their Certificate of Citizenship and even track down missing Canadian birth records.

With Canadian citizenship rules potentially expanding, now is a smart time to check your eligibility, especially if a parent or even grandparent was born in Canada. If you're feeling uneasy in today’s America and looking for a safety net, Canada might already be part of your story. All it takes is one Canadian-born parent, and a little paperwork to unlock a new set of rights and opportunities across the northern border.

                             

Victoria, British Columbia