Have a grandparent who is Canadian? You may be eligible for a Canadian passport
If you have at least one grandparent who is Canadian, you may be eligible for Canadian citizenship – even if you and your parents were born abroad, and neither of your parents has a Canadian passport.
That means that you may be able to apply for and receive a Canadian passport, even neither you nor your parents have ever lived in Canada.
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If your parent was born in Canada
If your parent was born in Canada, that means your parent was automatically a Canadian citizen by birth.*
If you have a parent who was born in Canada and acquired Canadian citizenship at birth, you can simply apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate.
It does not matter if your parent has died prior to your applying for proof of citizenship; you are still deemed a Canadian citizen and can apply for a citizenship certificate.
*Some exceptions may apply.
Your grandparent is Canadian, and your parent was born outside Canada
If you have at least one grandparent who is Canadian, and your parent was born outside Canada, the fist generation limit to citizenship by descent may apply to you. This means you are not automatically a Canadian citizen.
However, due to interim measures introduced this year, you can still apply for a discretionary grant of citizenship, if you can prove that at least one of your grandparents is Canadian.
If your application is approved, you’ll receive a Canadian citizenship certificate, an official document from the Government of Canada that serves as proof of citizenship, which you can use to apply for a Canadian passport.
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How does a discretionary grant of citizenship work?
A discretionary grant of citizenship means your situation will be reviewed, and IRCC will decide whether or not to grant you citizenship.
For this to happen, you must apply for a citizenship certificate.
IRCC will then review your application, and if you are eligible, will
Send you a letter to confirm receipt of your application; and
Invite you to request a discretionary grant of citizenship.
Example: Sarah
Take the case of Sarah, who was born in the US. Her mother was also born in the US, and her grandmother was a Canadian citizen born in Canada. Sarah’s mother is deemed a Canadian citizen by descent, as she was born abroad in the first generation.
Sarah, on the other hand, is not deemed a Canadian citizen by descent, as she is second generation born to a Canadian who gained citizenship by descent.
But due to the interim measures introduced in 2025, Sarah can apply for a discretionary grant of Canadian citizenship, as long as she can provide proof of her grandmother’s Canadian citizenship.
Applying for a Canadian citizenship certificate
You can visit the government website and answer questions regarding your specific situation. Based on your answers, you will be informed on whether you can apply on paper or online.
Applying by paper includes the following steps.
Step 1
This involves getting the application package, which includes the instruction guide, forms, and document checklist.
You will need to fill out the forms according to instructions, and include all documents listed in the checklist.
Step 2
You will also need to pay the application fee. You can pay online.
The citizenship certificate costs $75. Keep a copy of the receipt for the application, and for your records.
Step 3
The final step is submitting the application.
You will be told where to submit your completed application form and all documents, depending on the country you are applying from.
How to apply for a Canadian passport
The Canadian citizenship certificate is a legal document proving citizenship. It is not a travel document.
If you are looking to apply for a Canadian passport, you can do so by completing the application form. This is available online or at Service Canada centers in Canada.
You must provide
Proof of Canadian citizenship;
Proof of identity; and
Two passport photos.
Fees vary depending on the validity period (five or 10 years for adults).
Get a Free Legal Consultation on Applying for Proof of Canadian Citizenship
