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:
- You must complete the adoption process first.
- After the adoption is complete, you can choose to apply for the child's Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status.
- 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.
- You can bring your adopted child to Canada only after they
- become a Canadian citizen and
- get a Canadian passport or a facilitation visa
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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