I am in the process of applying for Canadian citizenship for my child. However, I'm encountering an issue that I would like to address. My child was born in the Netherlands, where they do not recognize the mother's last name. I have Spanish heritage, so in the Spanish tradition, the last name is composed of two parts: paternal and maternal. In the Netherlands, these two parts are combined into a single last name (for instance, "Juan --Perez----Hernandez--" becomes "Juan ---Perez Hernandez---"). As a result, my second last name is essentially eliminated, and my two last names are legally treated as one. This was the only way I could register my child's birth, resulting in the absence of the mother's last name and my two combined last names. Unfortunately, this setup makes it sound as if my child is my brother.
From the beginning, we have wished to give the child a name that includes both my last name and the mother's last name (e.g., Me: "Juan Perez Hernandez" and mother: "Maria Jansen"). This would mean that he has a paternal last name followed by a maternal one (e.g., child: "Jose Perez Jansen"). However, this is not currently legally permissible in the Netherlands. I am aware that such naming conventions are possible in Canada.
My child's name has faced several challenges in terms of our preference. Initially, the Dutch hospital only included one of my last names (e.g., "Perez"). Subsequently, the civil registry included both of my last names (e.g., "Perez Hernandez"). Now, I intend to register my child in Canada with my first last name followed by the mother's last name (e.g., "Jose Perez Jansen").
My concern arises from the fact that when applying for proof of citizenship, the application asks whether the person has ever used any other name. I am grappling with how to address this in my application to avoid rejection. Should I provide the hospital's name, or should I use the one on the Dutch birth certificate, which resulted in the name akin to my brother's? This situation is complex because none of the legal entities involved have accepted our preference for the child's name. I hope the Canadian government does.
From the beginning, we have wished to give the child a name that includes both my last name and the mother's last name (e.g., Me: "Juan Perez Hernandez" and mother: "Maria Jansen"). This would mean that he has a paternal last name followed by a maternal one (e.g., child: "Jose Perez Jansen"). However, this is not currently legally permissible in the Netherlands. I am aware that such naming conventions are possible in Canada.
My child's name has faced several challenges in terms of our preference. Initially, the Dutch hospital only included one of my last names (e.g., "Perez"). Subsequently, the civil registry included both of my last names (e.g., "Perez Hernandez"). Now, I intend to register my child in Canada with my first last name followed by the mother's last name (e.g., "Jose Perez Jansen").
My concern arises from the fact that when applying for proof of citizenship, the application asks whether the person has ever used any other name. I am grappling with how to address this in my application to avoid rejection. Should I provide the hospital's name, or should I use the one on the Dutch birth certificate, which resulted in the name akin to my brother's? This situation is complex because none of the legal entities involved have accepted our preference for the child's name. I hope the Canadian government does.