Retaining citizenship

Some citizens born outside Canada to a parent who was a Canadian at the time of their birth are required to make an application and meet certain requirements to keep (retain) Canadian citizenship before turning 28 years of age. This is called retention of Canadian citizenship.

Retention applies to Canadians born outside Canada after February 14, 1977, to a Canadian parent who was also born outside Canada to a Canadian parent. The Citizenship Act says that this second generation born outside Canada will lose Canadian citizenship at age 28 unless steps are taken to retain it.

On April 17, 2009 the law will change to end the need to retain citizenship for many people. However, people born outside Canada who are subject to the retention rules and who turn 28 before the new law comes into effect must still take action to retain citizenship.

Find out more about the new law and who is affected.

The new law will not restore citizenship to people who have lost it because they turned 28 years of age and did not meet the present requirements.

You do not have to retain citizenship if:

• you were born in Canada
• you were granted Canadian citizenship (become a Canadian citizen or naturalized as a Canadian citizen)
• you were born outside Canada, but one of your parents was born in Canada or
• you were born outside Canada after one parent was granted Canadian citizenship.

Retaining citizenship does not apply to adopted children.

To retain Canadian citizenship, you must:

• meet certain requirements
• send an application and
• take these steps before the age of 28.

In some cases, you may not need to apply, but you should check to make sure. A simple worksheet is provided on the page under Who Can Apply.

Learn about:

• Who can apply
• How to apply
• After applying