No, if your child is born in Canada, you do not automatically get citizenship yourself. Your child becomes a Canadian citizen immediately through jus soli (birthright citizenship), but you must pursue separate immigration pathways to obtain permanent residence and eventual citizenship.
For parents, the path to citizenship always begins with securing permanent residence first.
While your Canadian-born child opens certain immigration options, the process requires careful legal planning and often takes years to complete.
When your child is born in Canada, you face complex immigration decisions that will shape your family’s future. At Kingwell Immigration Law, we understand the unique challenges parents encounter when their Canadian-born child creates new possibilities, but doesn’t guarantee your right to stay.
Our experienced immigration lawyers have successfully represented families in Federal Court proceedings, helping them secure permanent residence through various pathways.
We handle urgent matters, including Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) applications, Humanitarian & Compassionate considerations, and procedural fairness challenges when standard applications face delays or refusals.
We provide strategic guidance on maintaining legal status while pursuing long-term solutions. Whether you need immediate temporary residence extensions, assistance with complex sponsorship applications, or representation in immigration appeals, our team brings over 20 years of specialized experience to your case.
When facing complex immigration decisions after your child’s birth in Canada, working with an experienced immigration lawyer in Toronto ensures you receive expert guidance tailored to your family’s unique circumstances.
If your child was born in Canada and you need expert guidance on your immigration options, call us at 416.988.8853 for a consultation.
Canada follows the jus soli principle, meaning any child born on Canadian soil automatically becomes a Canadian citizen, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. This birthright citizenship applies to children born in Canadian territory, airspace, territorial waters, and on Canadian-registered ships or aircraft.
Your Canadian-born child enjoys full citizenship rights immediately. They can obtain a Canadian passport, travel freely to and from Canada without visas, access free healthcare and education, and never face deportation. The only exception applies to children of foreign diplomats serving in Canada, who do not receive automatic citizenship.
Canadian citizens can hold multiple citizenships simultaneously, so if you eventually obtain Canadian citizenship, you may not need to renounce your original nationality.
💡 Learn more about does Canada allow dual citizenship to plan your family’s future options.
Our legal team can explain how your child’s citizenship status affects your specific immigration options and help you develop the most effective strategy.
As the parent of a Canadian citizen, you may remain in Canada temporarily through various visa categories. You can apply for visitor status, work permits, or study permits if you meet the eligibility requirements for each category.
Visitor status allows you to stay with your child while exploring longer-term immigration pathways. Work permits enable you to gain Canadian employment experience, which strengthens future permanent residence applications. Study permits provide pathways to education credentials that may qualify you for immigration programs.
These temporary options require regular renewals and maintain your responsibility to eventually obtain permanent status or leave Canada with your child.
At Kingwell Immigration Law, we help you select the most appropriate temporary status for your situation and ensure proper renewal timing to avoid gaps in authorization.
The most direct path to permanent residence involves applying through existing immigration programs. Economic immigration streams, including Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, and Quebec immigration programs, evaluate candidates based on factors like education, work experience, and language abilities.
Having a Canadian citizen child may provide additional points in some programs, though it doesn’t guarantee selection. These applications typically take 12-18 months to process and require meeting specific eligibility criteria independent of your child’s citizenship status.
Family sponsorship represents another potential pathway, though different rules apply depending on your relationship to potential sponsors in Canada. Our immigration lawyers assess your qualifications across multiple programs and guide you through the strongest application pathway for your circumstances.
Many parents wonder if my child is born in Canada, can I get permanent residency? It’s important to understand that Canadian law requires parents to first obtain permanent residence through an eligible program. Once PR is secured, and after meeting residency and other requirements, parents may then apply for citizenship.
💡 Additional reading: How to become a permanent resident in Canada
Your Canadian-born child can sponsor you for permanent residence, but only after they turn 18 and meet specific financial requirements. The Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) operates through an annual lottery system with limited spaces and substantial waiting periods.
Recent program statistics show processing times exceeding 24 months after selection, with thousands more applications than available spots each year. Your adult child must demonstrate income levels meeting government requirements for three consecutive years before and during the sponsorship period.
Alternative options include the Super Visa, which allows multiple entries for up to five years but doesn’t provide permanent status. This temporary solution requires private health insurance and proof of your child’s financial support capacity. Kingwell Immigration Law helps families prepare for future sponsorship opportunities and explores interim solutions to maintain family unity during waiting periods.
For expert guidance on family sponsorship applications and alternatives, contact us today.
Humanitarian & Compassionate (H&C) applications offer discretionary permanent residence for individuals facing exceptional circumstances. These applications consider factors including your establishment in Canada, your child’s best interests, and potential hardship if required to leave.
Having a Canadian citizen child strengthens H&C applications, particularly when separation would cause significant hardship or disrupt the child’s development. IRCC evaluates each case individually, considering family ties, community connections, and integration factors.
Processing times typically range from 12-18 months, with approval rates varying based on individual circumstances. Strong documentation of your ties to Canada and your child’s needs significantly improves success chances.
✔️ Our legal team has extensive experience preparing compelling H&C applications that effectively present your family’s unique circumstances and demonstrate why permanent residence serves Canada’s humanitarian interests.
Maintaining authorized status throughout immigration processes remains crucial for protecting your future applications. Falling out of status can complicate permanent residence applications and may require restoration procedures before continuing.
Work permits provide employment authorization during the application process, enabling you to support your family and demonstrate economic integration. Study permits allow skills development that may strengthen immigration applications while maintaining legal status.
Regular status extensions prevent gaps that could affect future applications. Planning renewal applications well before expiry dates avoids potential complications or periods without authorized status.
✔️ Our firm monitors your status requirements and ensures timely renewals to protect your ongoing applications and family stability.
Certain situations may accelerate or complicate your immigration process. If you face removal proceedings, Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) applications may protect you if you cannot return to your home country safely.
Medical emergencies affecting you or your Canadian-born child may support expedited processing requests or temporary residence extensions. Educational disruption for your child may factor into H&C considerations or urgent processing applications.
Employment opportunities that benefit Canada’s economic interests may qualify for fast-track work permit processing, providing immediate legal status while pursuing permanent solutions.
At Kingwell Immigration Law, we specialize in urgent immigration matters and can quickly assess your situation to determine the most appropriate emergency response strategy.
If you face urgent immigration circumstances affecting your Canadian-born child, call 416.988.8853 for immediate legal assistance.
Even though your Canadian-born child does not grant you automatic citizenship, their status gives them immediate access to healthcare and education benefits. For parents, however, coverage and access depend on immigration status and provincial rules.
Healthcare coverage for you and your Canadian-born child varies by province during your temporary status period. Most provinces require residents to maintain health insurance independently until they achieve permanent residence status.
Provincial health insurance programs typically cover your Canadian citizen child immediately, though coverage for non-resident parents requires private insurance or user fees for medical services. Emergency medical care remains available regardless of status, though significant costs may apply.
Educational benefits for your Canadian citizen child include access to public schooling in your resident province, though some provinces charge international student fees for non-resident parents’ children, depending on specific circumstances.
✔️ Our legal team can advise you on provincial-specific requirements and help you navigate healthcare and education systems during your immigration application process.
Your Canadian-born child needs proper documentation to prove citizenship for future applications and travel. Birth certificates issued by provincial vital statistics offices serve as primary citizenship proof for children born in Canada.
A citizenship certificate from IRCC is optional in these cases but can become important later in life, such as when sponsoring family members, applying for certain government employment, or resolving questions of citizenship for travel.
For naturalized citizens, however, a citizenship certificate is the primary proof of status and is required for most official purposes.
Maintaining complete records of your child’s Canadian birth documentation supports all future immigration applications you file, whether for temporary or permanent status in Canada.
✔️ We guide families through proper document collection and storage to ensure all future applications have the strongest possible supporting evidence.
Successful immigration planning requires evaluating multiple pathways and their timelines based on your specific circumstances and qualifications. Early consultation helps identify the strongest options and potential challenges before they become obstacles.
Consider applying through multiple programs simultaneously when eligible, as this increases your chances of success and may reduce overall processing times. However, each application requires separate documentation and fees.
Professional legal guidance helps navigate complex requirements and avoid mistakes that could delay or jeopardize your applications.
Our experience with Federal Court proceedings ensures you receive representation if your applications face unfair treatment or procedural errors. At Kingwell Immigration Law, we develop comprehensive strategies that maximize your family’s chances of remaining together in Canada.
| Pathway | Typical Processing Time | Key Requirements |
| Express Entry | 6-8 months | Language tests, education assessment, work experience |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 8-12 months | Provincial nomination, job offer or connection |
| Humanitarian & Compassionate | 12-18 months | Exceptional circumstances, establishment evidence |
| Child Sponsorship (18+ years) | 24+ months after selection | Child’s income proof, lottery selection |
| Super Visa | 2-4 months | Insurance, child’s income support proof |
These timelines represent typical processing periods and can vary based on individual circumstances, application completeness, and IRCC workload fluctuations.
For comprehensive immigration planning after your child’s birth in Canada, book a consultation today.
Your Canadian-born child maintains citizenship regardless of where they live or whether you remain in Canada. However, practical considerations affect their ability to benefit from Canadian citizenship if raised outside Canada.
Extended residence outside Canada may complicate your child’s future ability to sponsor family members or qualify for certain employment opportunities requiring security clearances. Maintaining connections to Canada through visits or temporary residence helps preserve these future opportunities.
Consider the long-term implications of your immigration decisions on your child’s Canadian connections and future opportunities when evaluating your options.
Our immigration lawyers help families balance immediate needs with long-term goals to ensure decisions protect both current stability and future possibilities.
Having a Canadian-born child creates opportunities, but navigating immigration law requires experienced legal guidance to protect your family’s interests. Our team brings specialized expertise in complex cases, Federal Court proceedings, and urgent immigration matters that can make the difference between success and separation from your child.
We develop strategies tailored to your specific circumstances and goals, ensuring you receive personalized guidance rather than generic advice. Our proven track record in challenging cases and deep knowledge of Canadian immigration law provide the expertise your family needs during this critical time.
Rather than attempting to navigate Canada’s complex immigration system independently, let our experienced team guide you through every step of the process. We handle the legal complexities while you focus on caring for your Canadian-born child and building your life in Canada.
Don’t navigate Canada’s complex immigration system alone. Call Kingwell Immigration Law at 416.988.8853 or visit our contact page to discuss your family’s path to permanent residence.
Your length of stay depends on your current immigration status and visa validity, not your child’s citizenship. You must maintain a valid temporary status through a visitor, work, or study permit, or apply for permanent residence to remain legally in Canada long-term.
Your child needs a birth certificate issued by the provincial vital statistics office where they were born. This serves as primary proof of Canadian citizenship for passport applications, school enrollment, and future immigration sponsorships without requiring additional citizenship certificates.
Your Canadian citizen child qualifies for provincial health insurance immediately, but you require separate coverage until achieving permanent resident status. Most provinces offer emergency services regardless of status, though significant user fees may apply for non-urgent care.
Hospital delivery costs for non-residents typically range from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on complications and length of stay. Additional costs include prenatal care, specialist consultations, and potential NICU fees, making comprehensive travel insurance essential for visiting parents.
Divorce doesn’t affect your child’s ability to sponsor you once they turn 18, as parent-child sponsorship doesn’t depend on your marital status. However, if you relied on a spouse’s sponsorship application, divorce would terminate that separate process completely.
