Determine your eligibility—Citizenship process

To be eligible for a grant of Canadian citizenship, the adopted person must:

• have been adopted on or after January 1, 1947
• have at least one (1) adoptive parent who, at the time of the adoption, was or is a Canadian citizen who was:
  • born in Canada;
  • naturalized in Canada (became a citizen after coming to Canada as a permanent resident); or
  • working outside Canada as an employee of the Canadian government, a province, or serving with the Canadian Forces at the time of the adoption.
• meet the requirements of the Citizenship Act

Not sure about which process to use? Read about the differences between the citizenship and the immigration processes for adoption.

Requirements for intercountry adoption

If you are adopting a child under 18 years of age

When a Canadian citizen adopts a child under 18 years of age, the adoption must meet the following requirements in order for the child to be granted citizenship:

• The adoption must have taken place on or after January 1, 1947.
• The adoption must be in the best interests of the child.
• The adoption will create a genuine relationship of parent and child.
• The adoption is in accordance with the laws of the place where the adoption took place and the laws of the country of residence where the adoptive parents reside.
• The adoption must not have been entered into simply to acquire citizenship status or privilege in relation to immigration or citizenship.

If you are adopting a person 18 years of age or older

When a Canadian citizen adopts a person over 18, the adoption must meet the following requirements in order for the person to be granted citizenship:

• The adoption must have taken place on or after January 1, 1947.
• A genuine relationship of parent and child between the person and the adoptive parent existed before the person attained the age of 18 years and at the time of the adoption.
• The adoption is in accordance with the laws of the place where the adoption took place and the laws of the country of residence where the adoptive parents reside.
• The adoption must not have been entered into simply to acquire citizenship status or privilege in relation to immigration or citizenship.