Citizenship Act

Marginal note:Adoptees — minors

• 5.1 (1) Subject to subsection (3), the Minister shall on application grant citizenship to a person who was adopted by a citizen on or after January 1, 1947 while the person was a minor child if the adoption

  • (a) was in the best interests of the child;

  • (b) created a genuine relationship of parent and child;

  • (c) was in accordance with the laws of the place where the adoption took place and the laws of the country of residence of the adopting citizen; and

  • (d) was not entered into primarily for the purpose of acquiring a status or privilege in relation to immigration or citizenship.

• Marginal note:Adoptees — adults

  (2) Subject to subsection (3), the Minister shall on application grant citizenship to a person who was adopted by a citizen on or after January 1, 1947 while the person was at least 18 years of age if

  • (a) there was a genuine relationship of parent and child between the person and the adoptive parent before the person attained the age of 18 years and at the time of the adoption; and

  • (b) the adoption meets the requirements set out in paragraphs (1)(c) and (d).

• Marginal note:Quebec adoptions

  (3) The Minister shall on application grant citizenship to a person in respect of whose adoption — by a citizen who is subject to Quebec law governing adoptions — a decision was made abroad on or after January 1, 1947 if

  • (a) the Quebec authority responsible for international adoptions advises, in writing, that in its opinion the adoption meets the requirements of Quebec law governing adoptions; and

  • (b) the adoption was not entered into primarily for the purpose of acquiring a status or privilege in relation to immigration or citizenship.