Adopting Child From Sri Lanka Sponsorship Undertaking Steps

[Sanjeev]

My friend and her husband came to Canada in 2012. Due to certain health problems, my friend is unable to have a child so they have decided to adopt a child from Sri Lanka. My friend is a Canadian citizen but her husband is a permanent resident of Canada. We are wondering, whether the adopted child will automatically become a Canadian citizen or what will be the child’s status in Canada? Please clarify the eligibility criteria for adopted children.

[Rajpal (Admin)]

For an adopted person to be eligible for a direct grant of citizenship for adopted persons at least one of the adoptive parents must be a Canadian citizen at the time of the adoption, or, for adoptions that took place prior to January 1, 1947, at least one adoptive parent must have become a Canadian citizen on January 1, 1947 (or April 1, 1949, in the case of Newfoundland and Labrador for adoptions that took place prior to April 1, 1949) and be able to pass on Canadian citizenship to the adopted person.

In your case, since your friend is already a Canadian citizen, the child will be eligible for a direct grant of citizenship.