Citizenship Act

Marginal note:Persons who are citizens

• 3 (1) Subject to this Act, a person is a citizen if

  • (a) the person was born in Canada after February 14, 1977;

  • (b) the person was born outside Canada after February 14, 1977 and at the time of his birth one of his parents, other than a parent who adopted him, was a citizen;

  • (c) the person has been granted or acquired citizenship pursuant to section 5 or 11 and, in the case of a person who is fourteen years of age or over on the day that he is granted citizenship, he has taken the oath of citizenship;

  • (c.1) the person has been granted citizenship under section 5.1;

  • (d) the person was a citizen immediately before February 15, 1977; or

  • (e) the person was entitled, immediately before February 15, 1977, to become a citizen under paragraph 5(1)(b) of the former Act.

• Marginal note:Not applicable to children of foreign diplomats, etc.

  (2) Paragraph (1)(a) does not apply to a person if, at the time of his birth, neither of his parents was a citizen or lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence and either of his parents was

  • (a) a diplomatic or consular officer or other representative or employee in Canada of a foreign government;

  • (b) an employee in the service of a person referred to in paragraph (a); or

  • (c) an officer or employee in Canada of a specialized agency of the United Nations or an officer or employee in Canada of any other international organization to whom there are granted, by or under any Act of Parliament, diplomatic privileges and immunities certified by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to be equivalent to those granted to a person or persons referred to in paragraph (a).