Before you apply

Before you apply, make sure you know the following:

How the citizenship process works

Here’s an overview of the citizenship application process for an adopted child:

  1. You must complete the adoption process first.
  2. After the adoption is complete, you can choose to apply for the child's Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status.
  3. If you choose to apply for citizenship, there are 2 parts to the process:
    • Part 1: We check if the parent can pass on Canadian citizenship to their adopted child.
    • Part 2: We check if the adopted child can become a Canadian citizen.
  4. You can bring your adopted child to Canada only after they

    This means the adopted child may not immediately live in Canada after the adoption and citizenship processes are complete.

 Don’t adopt during a crisis

A crisis (such as a war or natural disaster) often separates children from their families. In these situations, you shouldn’t adopt a child because

  • reuniting the child with their parents or family must take priority
  • it’s difficult to confirm if a child is actually available for adoption

For more information, check the statement from UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund).

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