Birth abroad

If you are a Canadian and have had, or are planning to have, a child outside of Canada, the birth does not need to be registered in Canada.

You may apply for a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship to confirm whether your child is a Canadian citizen:

Get proof of Canadian citizenship

Read Get a citizenship certificate for someone born outside of Canada to see how Canadian citizenship can be passed down to children born abroad and note the changes to citizenship rules. Not all children born outside of Canada to Canadian citizens are entitled to Canadian citizenship.

If you are outside of Canada, you can contact the nearest Canadian government office about applying for a certificate of Canadian citizenship.

A Certificate of Canadian citizenship is not a travel document but it can be used to apply for a Canadian passport.