Canada’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller has proposed Bill C-71, which could change the first-generation limit (FGL) on citizenship by descent. If passed, this bill will allow children born abroad to Canadian parents to pass on their citizenship to their children, effectively creating a second-generation cut-off.
To address current limitations, IRCC has implemented interim measures to expedite citizenship for eligible foreign nationals.
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What Are IRCC’s New Interim Measures?
IRCC’s new measures apply to those who have requested urgent processing for their citizenship application and are impacted by the FGL rule. The scenarios are:
- Scenario One: The applicant has applied for proof of citizenship, meets urgent processing criteria, and is affected by the FGL rule change.
- Scenario Two: The applicant’s proof of citizenship application was deprioritized due to FGL rules, but they now request urgent processing.
Eligible applicants will receive a notice about the FGL rule and the option to request a “discretionary grant of citizenship,” which is processed by the Immigration Minister or a delegated decision maker.
Who Is Eligible for Urgent Processing?
Applicants can apply for urgent processing if they need their citizenship certificate for:
- Accessing benefits like pensions, healthcare, or a SIN
- Proving Canadian citizenship for employment
- Travel due to a death or serious illness in the family
What Documents Are Needed for Urgent Processing?
Include the following in your urgent processing request:
- Explanation letter
- Supporting documents (e.g., plane ticket, employer letter, doctor’s note, or death certificate)
Applying for Urgent Citizenship Certificate Processing
Applicants can apply online or on paper, but should avoid submitting duplicate applications. IRCC emphasizes that submitting both online and paper applications will result in only the paper application being processed.
Lost Citizenship Certificate? Here’s What to Do
If you’ve lost your citizenship certificate, you can apply for a new one or use other valid documents such as:
- Citizenship cards
- Certain Canadian birth certificates
- Naturalization certificates (pre-1947)
- Registration of birth abroad certificates (1947-1977)
Invalid Proof of Citizenship Documents
The following documents are not valid for proving Canadian citizenship:
- Citizenship record letters
- Commemorative certificates
- Some Canadian birth certificates (with restrictions)
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