An examination of citizenship acquisition through descent and other exceptional circumstances.
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Amandeep Hayer
October 15, 2026 at 12:00pm EST
$90
3 hours
Attend Live Online and On-Demand Recording
This course provides a comprehensive and practical examination of Canadian citizenship law, focusing on citizenship by descent, citizenship through adoption, and grant (naturalization) applications. Participants will explore the legislative framework governing Canadian citizenship, including the significant changes introduced by Bill C-3, which removed the first-generation limit and introduced the substantial connection test. The program also examines citizenship certificates, direct grants of citizenship for adopted persons, eligibility for naturalization, prohibitions, loss and renunciation of citizenship, and the practical and ethical considerations involved in representing clients in citizenship matters. Designed for immigration lawyers and RCICs, this course equips practitioners with the knowledge to confidently navigate both straightforward and complex Canadian citizenship applications.
• Citizenship by birth
• Citizenship by descent, general framework
• Applications for citizenship certificates (proof of citizenship)
• British subjects living in Canada pre-January 1, 1947
• Background: the first-generation limit introduced in 2009
• Bjorkquist v Canada and the 2023 Ontario Superior Court ruling
• Bill C-3: overview, royal assent, and coming into force on December 15, 2025
• Restoration of citizenship for second generation and later Canadians born before December 15, 2025 (the “Lost Canadians”)
• The substantial connection test for those born or adopted on or after December 15, 2025
• Proving 1,095 days of physical presence, cumulative not consecutive
• Practice pointers: identifying eligible clients and gathering evidence of the parent’s physical presence
• Direct grant of citizenship for adopted persons under section 5.1 of the Citizenship Act
• Eligibility requirements: adoptive parent’s citizenship status, genuine parent child relationship, best interests of the child, and legality under the laws of the adoption country
• Adoption of minors versus adoption of persons 18 years of age or older
• How the first-generation limit applied to adopted persons, and how Bill C-3 changes this analysis
• Direct grant route versus sponsorship for permanent residence: comparing timelines and requirements
• Recent procedural updates: elimination of the CIT 0480 form and changes to travel documents for adopted persons
• Constitutional issues involving adopted person’s own child
• General requirements
• Calculating residency and physical presence
• Language testing
• Knowledge of Canada test (citizenship test)
• Police clearance certificate
• Compassionate waivers
• Criminality
• Removal order
• Fraud
• Application forms and supporting documents
• Fees
• The paper process versus online applications, what counsel can and cannot do
• Citizenship test and swearing the oath
• Processing times
• Investigation and inqui
• Loss of citizenship if obtained by fraudulent means
• Process and requirements to renounce citizenship
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Principal Lawyer
Hayer Law
Amandeep Hayer is the Principal of Hayer Law in Langley, British Columbia, where he has led his practice since 2022, bringing extensive experience representing individuals, families, and businesses in Canadian immigration matters. Called to the Alberta, British Columbia, and Colorado Bars, he serves as an executive member of the CBA’s BC Immigration Law Section and has appeared as an expert witness before the House of Commons Citizenship and Immigration Committee.
Have questions? We’re here to help. Check out our FAQs to learn more about this Course.
Absolutely. Every LPEN course is recorded, and the recording is added to your account within a few business days. You can log in anytime to watch it on demand and still receive your digital certificate of completion.
LPEN seeks accreditation for each course from the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) and the Law Society of Ontario (LSO),the Law Society of BC (LSBC) when applicable. Accreditation details and approved CPD hours are listed in the CPD Credits section on each course page, so you can easily confirm how the course qualifies toward your professional development requirements.
A digital certificate of completion will be available once the course recording has been uploaded. After that, you can follow the steps at the top of your My Courses page—where you’ll also find a short video explaining how to download your certificate. Be sure to save it as part of your documentation for your CPD hours.
This course may be included in one or several LPEN Passes. Passes offer discounted rates and access to multiple courses, making CPD compliance simpler. Check out our Passes page to see where it is included.
You don’t need to create an account separately. When you register for a course or pass, an account is automatically created during checkout. You’ll be asked to enter your email address and set a password—these will be your login details for future access.
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