Parents often come to this question assuming they must fill out a form, and that may be wrong. A child’s route depends on where they were born, who their parents are, and what status the family has now. Some children in Brampton are already citizens and just need proof. Others can obtain citizenship at the same time as a parent, with very few requirements. A smaller group has to meet the same physical presence test as an adult.
It is also easy to underestimate the time pressure. A 17-year-old’s parents may think they have plenty of time, but the child’s route and requirements change once they reach 18. An application planned around a parent’s own citizenship can also be disrupted by a parent’s trip abroad, a separated co-parent, or an unexpected issue in a parent’s file.
This article is general information, not legal advice about your family. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updates its forms and instructions regularly, so confirm requirements with IRCC before you apply. In this article, a “minor” means a person under 18.
First Ask: Is the Child Already a Citizen?
Children born in Canada. With limited exceptions, such as certain children of foreign diplomats, a child born in Canada is a citizen from birth under section 3 of the Citizenship Act. A child born at Brampton Civic Hospital does not apply for a grant of citizenship. The parent’s status does not usually matter. Proof is typically an Ontario birth certificate, and a parent may also apply for a citizenship certificate.
Children born abroad to a Canadian parent. These children may be citizens by descent. A child born outside Canada to a parent who was born or naturalized in Canada is generally a citizen from birth. The law on later generations changed on December 15, 2025, when amendments made by Bill C-3 came into force.
Under these changes, people born abroad before that date who were excluded only by the former first-generation limit or similar outdated rules are generally now recognized as citizens. For children born abroad on or after December 15, 2025, to a parent who was also born abroad, a Canadian parent can pass on citizenship if the parent spent at least 1,095 cumulative days in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption. These days are the parent’s days, not the child’s. The count is before the birth, which means time spent here afterward does not help for that child.
If you are in this position, the right application is usually for a citizenship certificate, also called proof of citizenship, which is a different process from a grant. IRCC’s guidance says that a person with a Canadian parent or grandparent may already be a citizen and can apply for a certificate to find out. It would be a waste of time and money to pursue a grant for a child who is a citizen already.
The Two Grant Routes for Permanent Residents
If the child is not a citizen, and is a permanent resident, IRCC divides minors into two groups.
| Minor 5(2) | Minor 5(1) | |
|---|---|---|
| Parent’s position | Has a Canadian parent, or a parent applying at the same time | No Canadian parent, and none applying at the same time |
| Physical presence | Not required | At least 1,095 days in the five years before signing |
| Income tax filing | Not required | May be required for three of the five years |
| Language and test | Not required | Not required |
| Oath | Age 14 to 17 | Age 14 to 17 |
| Fee (per IRCC’s fee list) | $100 | $100 |
A child must be a permanent resident to apply under either route. For children still waiting for a sponsorship to finish, the first step is permanent residence, and a child with a pending sponsorship cannot skip ahead.
The Common Family Route: Minor 5(2)
Consider a hypothetical family that has lived in Brampton for four years. The father has met his 1,095 days and applies for citizenship. His son, who landed with him and is 12, can apply under section 5(2) at the same time. No physical presence calculation is needed for the boy, and he does not take a test. If the father has already become a citizen, the same route is open without needing to time it with his application.
Under this route, a parent applying with their child should think about how to keep things moving together:
- Apply together if you can. Online, a parent’s account can hold up to 20 minors, and one minor can be linked to only one adult account.
- Think about the group. On paper, if any application in a family package is incomplete, every application submitted together will be returned. A missing photo for one child can hold up the whole family.
- Plan for changes. If the parent’s own application gets delayed or refused, the child’s basis under 5(2) may no longer hold. Ask what happens to the child’s file, and what the alternative would be under 5(1).
Biological and adoptive parents both count. Stepparents usually do not, unless the child has been legally adopted. A stepfather who became a citizen does not by that fact give his stepdaughter this route, although the child’s other parent might. An adoptive parent should have the adoption order ready.
When No Parent Is Canadian: Minor 5(1)
This route is for a child who has no Canadian parent and no parent applying at the same time. For example, a parent may lack enough days, or may be keeping a different citizenship for family or property reasons. Sometimes the child has been in Canada longer than either parent, or the parent has died.
The child must meet a physical presence test: at least 1,095 days during the five-year period ending on the day of signing. At least 730 of these must be as a permanent resident, and up to 365 credits can come from time as a temporary resident or protected person, counted at half a day each. The person applying must have custody of the child or be able to act legally on their behalf, though they do not need to be a citizen.
IRCC also asks whether the child was required to file Canadian taxes in at least three of those five years. Most young children have never needed to file, and the question is about whether a filing obligation existed. A 16-year-old with a part-time job at a Brampton grocery store may be a different story, particularly if there was a reason to file, so look into it first.
As with adults, it makes sense to apply with extra days to spare. Use IRCC’s calculator, and include every school trip and holiday across the border.
In rare cases, no one is available to apply for a minor. IRCC allows such a minor to request to apply alone online through a waiver process, with supporting documents, which IRCC may approve or reject.
Who Signs and Who Has Authority
The application must come from a parent, including an adoptive parent, or a legal guardian with custody of the minor. Minors aged 14 to 17 also sign.
Separated families have a harder time here. If parents live apart, each may hold different decision-making rights under a separation agreement or court order. Before filing, read the order or agreement. It may say something about decision-making or who keeps the child’s passport and documents, and it can require consent for certain steps. If you have sole decision-making authority or the other parent has agreed, keep a copy of the relevant document at hand. If the other parent is objecting, or there is a real dispute, talk to someone before filing, because a contested application can put your family court matter at risk. A family lawyer can help with this, and our custody page outlines how Ontario handles decision-making responsibility.
Interpreting a foreign order, or an informal arrangement with a relative abroad, can be harder. Do not assume it gives you authority to sign. Grandparents raising a child in Peel Region, for example, may need a formal order showing they have legal authority.
Age Fourteen and the Oath
A child under 14 does not take the oath of citizenship. A minor between 14 and 17 does. In limited circumstances a minor in this age group can ask for a waiver of the oath, using the process and form IRCC describes, with supporting evidence. Waivers are an exception and shouldn’t be assumed, for example where a condition would prevent the young person from understanding the oath.
All minors are exempt from the language requirement and the citizenship test. If an adult parent goes to a test and interview, you might still receive notices relating to the child. Read each one carefully, and do not assume it only concerns the parent.
Minors must also be free of any prohibition, and this is one to keep in mind for a teen. A youth with a charge in the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton or a young offender matter should get advice before the application is submitted. Prohibitions can involve being under a removal order, certain criminal matters, or a prior citizenship issue, depending on the facts.
Turning 18 During the Process
The minor application is intended for people under 18 when the application is signed. A person turning 18 soon after signing should not assume it creates a problem, but they should not wait until the last week either. A person who has already turned 18 must apply as an adult, and that means meeting adult requirements, including their own physical presence, language, test, and tax filing conditions. A teenager who has only been here for two years would lose a real advantage by reaching 18 before the family applies.
If a birthday is approaching, check the IRCC guidance on when the age applies. Remember too that a minor’s fee of $100 is much lower than the adult fee, and it is not refundable once processing has started, even where citizenship is refused.
What to Gather
For a Minor 5(2) application, IRCC’s checklist commonly includes:
- A birth certificate or adoption order showing the parent-child relationship.
- Pages of passports or travel documents from the child’s five-year eligibility period.
- Two identical citizenship photos.
- Proof of the fee.
- Proof of the parent’s citizenship, or the parent’s concurrent application.
- Proof of permanent residence.
Paper applications may be required in certain cases, including when a representative submits for you, and they must be sent within 90 days of signing. Check the most recent checklist. When a birth certificate is in another language, include a certified translation.
Canada also permits dual citizenship, but not every country does. For a child, acquiring Canadian citizenship could affect existing citizenship, a passport, military service, or an entitlement to inherit or hold land in another country. Family members in Brampton often have property or relatives abroad, so this is worth checking with that country’s consulate before the oath, particularly for an older teen.
Planning Ahead
For most families, a citizenship application for a child is manageable. A minor’s route is usually simpler than an adult’s, and the document list is short. Getting help makes sense when parents disagree, a parent’s own file has complications, a child has a charge, or the family’s history involves a question of citizenship by descent. In that last case, a family may wrongly spend years trying to obtain something the child already holds.
Our other immigration services page outlines the kinds of matters the firm assists with, and you can contact Sawan Law House LLP if you would like to discuss your child’s position. A review cannot promise IRCC’s decision, but it can tell you which route fits your family before the first fee is paid.