cprak0 said:
If this bill is passed then yes, children can apply for citizenship regardless of parents status.
https://www.google.ca/amp/vancouversun.com/news/politics/senate-bill-would-let-children-become-citizens-without-their-parents/amp
Yes, if the amendment passes, then children can apply for citizenship, or more correctly: Their legal guardian(s) can apply on behalf of the child, no matter if the parents apply and/or are citizens already.
However, please note that in this case (application without the parents), the child must indeed meet the residency requirement (which will be 3 out of 5 years if this bill passes).
Under the new law (if it is passed in its current amended form) these are the paths to citizenship for a minor (= under 18)
- If the child has a Canadian citizen parent, their parents can apply for the child's citizenship without the child needing to meet the residency days. This is a grant according to section 5(2) of the Citizenship Act. This process exists already today.
- If the parents are applying for Citizenship (as PRs meeting the residency days), the parents can apply for the child's citizenship at the same time. Note that while the family applies for citizenship together, formally speaking once the application is finished, the parents receive citizenship first - according to the usual rules (residency days etc) described in section 5(1) of the citizenship act - and then, "one second later" the child gets citizenship according to section 5(2) which doesn't require residency days. This is possible because - as of one second ago - the child's parents are citizens and therefore the rules of 5(2) apply. This process exists already today.
- If the amended bill C-6 becomes law, any adult who can legally represent the child (that could be the parents or another legal guardian) can apply for the child's citizenship following the "normal" rules described in section 5(1) as an "independent application" if you want to call it that. But in that case, section 5(1) applies. That means the child has to meet the residency requirement!