Naturalized Citizen versus Born Citizen in Canada
Kiarash was born in Ottawa, Canada, in 1983. His parents were both international students from Iran. They completed their studies and left without applying for immigration. Kiarash was only four months old when his parents left Canada for good. Kiarash has never travelled to Canada and holds no Canadian documents besides his birth certificate. A friend of Kiarash recently told him he is a Canadian citizen. He wonders if this is true.
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Canadian Citizenship in a Nutshell
Many people around the world consider Canadian citizenship a privilege. One reason people immigrate to Canada is to become Canadian citizens. They leave their home country, language, relatives, and sometimes their culture and beliefs behind to pursue a new life, eventually becoming Canadian citizens.
People can become Canadians by birth or by naturalization. The Canadian Citizenship Act provides for naturalization by grant.
Who is a Canadian By BIRTH?
There are two ways for a person to become a Canadian by birth. If someone is born in Canada, they automatically become Canadian citizens. The only exception is when one of the parents is a foreign country employee or diplomat, and the other is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
The other option for citizenship by birth is for those born outside Canada, provided at least one of their parents is a Canadian citizen. The rules around this group have changed since December 15, 2025.
Who is a Naturalized Citizen?
A naturalized citizen immigrates to Canada first and then, after a few years, applies and becomes a Canadian citizen. For example, under existing regulations, you may apply for citizenship if you are a landed immigrant and have spent at least 1,095 days in Canada over the past five years. The following steps usually involve submitting documents, taking a citizenship test, and eventually taking the Oath of Citizenship (or attending the Citizenship ceremony).
Children under 18 can become naturalized citizens when their parents become Canadian citizens.
What are the Differences Between Naturalized and Born CITIZENS?
Federal and provincial laws, as well as courts, treat naturalized and born citizens equally. Both groups have similar responsibilities and privileges. Nobody in the country could treat such citizens differently. Nonetheless, there are specific differences that you need to keep in mind:
- If a naturalized citizen has fraudulently obtained their permanent residency or citizenship, then immigration authorities may revoke their citizenship.
- A naturalized citizen cannot hold a Canadian birth certificate.
- Other countries may treat a naturalized citizen differently due to their place of birth, despite their Canadian citizenship.
Check Your Status Below
Please answer the questions about your birth and family history honestly. The form provides a preliminary estimate based on current Canadian laws.
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Al Parsai, LLM, MA, RCIC-IRB
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Adjunct Professor, Queen’s University Faculty of Law
Instructor, Ashton College, Immigration Consulting Program
Author of 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada and Inadmissibility to Canada for Human Rights Violations
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