Have you ever heard about the term “lost Canadians”? If you were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent, you might be one of them! The good news is that you can take action now to obtain Canadian citizenship without waiting for new laws to come into effect.

Thanks to recent interim measures, you can apply for discretionary grants of citizenship right away. But what do you need to get started? Let’s break it down!

First, you’ll need to fill out the application form for a citizenship certificate (CIT 0001). Along with that, you’ll need two photographs that meet the required specifications—make sure they’re recent!

Don’t forget to include two pieces of valid personal ID, one of which must have your photo on it. And yes, you’ll also need to prove that you’ve made the payment for your application.

Are you using a representative to help you with your application? Make sure to include the appropriate form. If your personal situation is a bit unique—say you’ve changed your name or gender—you’ll need to include additional documents to support that as well.

For those who were born to a Canadian parent outside of Canada and never received a citizenship certificate, you’ll need to gather proof of your parent’s Canadian citizenship, your foreign birth certificate, and more. This can feel overwhelming, but it’s definitely manageable!

The main thing is to gather all your documents carefully. Once everything is in order, you’ll submit your application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). They will review it and inform you whether you’re eligible for a discretionary grant of citizenship.

If you're curious or need more help, you can always get a free legal consultation to understand your options better!