Canada Naturalization and Citizenship: Difference between revisions

=== Requirements for Naturalization ===

The requirements and process of naturalization have changed many times. Major laws and circumstances that have affected naturalization requirements are described below.  

Before Canada Became a Nation (pre-1867): Naturalization was completed in accordance with the laws of the provinces or with British law. Between 1763 and 1947, non-alien residents of Canada were considered British subjects. Settlers from England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales had no need to naturalize in Canada. Naturalization in Canada conferred British subject status on immigrants from other countries, but only for Canada.  

Prior to the War of 1812: There was no naturalization process in British North America, although some colonies had laws that required aliens to declare the length of their residence and the nature of their business. Some immigrants had to take loyalty oaths when applying for land grants; copies of early oaths of allegiance and later naturalization papers were sometimes filed with land records. See the "[[Canada Land and Property Records|Land and Property]]" section of this outline.  

After the War of 1812: The first naturalization laws for the colonies of British North America were an eventual result of the War of 1812. In New Brunswick, certificates of naturalization date from 1817. In Upper Canada (Ontario) the law did not take effect until 1828. Laws for the other provinces were enacted later, although some documents had been made under British law.  

'''After Confederation''' (1867): Most naturalization was a federal process, although provinces retained some jurisdiction over immigrants. Since 1867, certificates of naturalization have normally been granted by the office of the Secretary of State for Canada. Petitions for citizenship were received by judicial courts, which forwarded them to the Secretary of State’s office for approval. Certificates of naturalization were returned to the courts, where they were delivered to the applicants after they had taken an oath of citizenship.  

In 1947: Canadian citizenship was established separate from British.  

A historical survey of earlier laws and policies is in:  

Finkelman, J., "Aliens," in the Encyclopedia of Canada. Toronto: University Associates of Canada, 1935. 1:43–53. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=112531&disp=The+Encyclopedia+of+Canada%20%20&columns=*,0,0 971 A5w; computer number 28905].)