YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR DUTY
Many people around the world consider Canadian citizenship a privilege. One of the reasons that people immigrate to Canada is to become Canadian citizens. They leave their home country, their language, their relatives, and sometimes their culture and beliefs behind to pursue a new life which eventually turns them into Canadian citizens.
People could become Canadians either by birth or through naturalization. The Canadian Citizenship Act calls naturalization, citizenship by way of grant.
Who is a Canadian By BIRTH?
There are two ways that a person becomes a Canadian by birth. If someone is born in Canada, then they automatically become a Canadian citizen. The only exception is when one of the parents is a foreign country employee or diplomat, and the other is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
The other option for citizenship by birth is for those born outside Canada, but at least one of their parents is a first-generation Canadian. You are a first-generation Canadian if you are either born inside Canada or become a Canadian by way of naturalization.
Who is a Naturalized Citizen?
Put, a naturalized citizen immigrates to Canada first and then, after a few years, applies and becomes a Canadian citizen. For example, according to the existing regulations, if you are a landed immigrant and have spent at least three years in Canada in the past five years, you may apply for citizenship. The next steps usually involve submitting documents, taking a citizenship test, and eventually taking the Oath of Citizenship (or attending the Citizenship ceremony).
Children under 18 could become naturalized citizens when their parents become Canadians.