This article is about the history of Canadian nationality rules. For current nationality rules, see Canadian nationality law.
Part of a series on
Canadian citizenship and immigration
Immigration
Immigration to Canada
History of immigration to Canada
Canada immigration statistics
Economic impact of immigration
Permanent resident card
Permanent residency
Temporary residency
Provincial Nomination Program
Nationality
History of nationality law
Citizenship Test
Oath of Citizenship
Citizenship
Passports
Honorary citizenship
Commonwealth citizen
Legislation
Immigration Act, 1869
Citizenship Act, 1946
Citizenship Act, 1976
Immigration Act, 1976
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act
Canadian immigration and refugee law
Agencies
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Canada Border Services Agency
Immigration and Refugee Board
Public Safety Canada
Issues
Lost Canadians
"Canadians of convenience"
Demographics
Demographics of Canada
Canadians
Canadian identity
Population by year
Ethnic origins
Canada portal
v
t
e
The history of Canadian nationality law dates back over three centuries, and has evolved considerably over that time.
During the early colonial period, residents of the French colonies were French subjects, governed by French nationality law, while residents of British colonies were British subjects, governed by British law. Prior to Confederation in 1867, the residents of the various provinces of British North America were British subjects, governed primarily by British law.
After Confederation, as Canada evolved to full nationhood, it gradually enacted laws relating to rights of domicile and entry to Canada, although Canadians continued to be British subjects under British law.
In 1946, the federal Parliament enacted the Canadian Citizenship Act, 1946, which created fully independent Canadian citizenship, separate from British law and status as British subjects. That Act came into force on January 1, 1947, and remained in force for thirty years. It conferred citizenship in different ways, by birth in Canada, birth to a Canadian parent, and by naturalisation. Since 1977, Canadian nationality has been regulated by the Citizenship Act, enacted in 1976 and brought into force in 1977.
The Canadian Citizenship Act, 1946 imposed restrictions on multiple citizenship. The current Canadian Citizenship Act does not restrict multiple citizenship.
and 30 Related for: History of Canadian nationality law information
Canadiannationalitylaw details the conditions by which a person is a national ofCanada. The primary law governing these regulations is the Citizenship...
historyof British nationalitylaw. British nationalitylaw has its origins in medieval England. There has always been a distinction in English law between...
the entry into force of the new nationalitylaw will continue to be processed under the 1952 law. The federal nationalitylawof 2014 imposes two formal...
Nationalitylaw is the lawof a sovereign state, and of each of its jurisdictions, that defines the legal manner in which a national identity is acquired...
Taiwanese nationalitylaw details the conditions in which a person is a national of the Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan. The Nationality Act is...
United States nationalitylaw details the conditions in which a person holds United States nationality. In the United States, nationality is typically...
state of the Jewish people since 2018. The region of Palestine was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1516. Accordingly, Ottoman nationalitylaw applied...
Japanese NationalityLaw details the conditions by which a person holds nationalityof Japan. The primary law governing nationality regulations is the...
Cypriot nationalitylaw details the conditions by which a person is a national of Cyprus. The primary law governing nationality regulations is the Republic...
Philippine nationalitylaw details the conditions by which a person is a national of the Philippines. The two primary pieces of legislation governing these...
Mongolian nationalitylaw is a nationalitylaw that determines who is a citizen of Mongolia. Current citizenship law is guided by the 1992 Constitution of Mongolia...
The Law on Nationalityof Cambodia (Cambodian Citizenship) determines who is a citizen of Cambodia under a 1996 nationalitylaw. Cambodian citizenship...
Spanish nationality legal framework refers to all the laws, provisions, regulations, and resolutions in Spain concerning nationality. Article 11 of the First...
Belgian nationalitylaw provides for the conditions in which a person holds Belgian nationality and is based on a mixture of the principles of jus sanguinis...
Pakistani nationalitylaw details the conditions by which a person is a national of Pakistan. The primary law governing these requirements is the Pakistan...
Indonesian nationalitylaw is regulated by the 1945 Constitution, as amended; various statutes on nationality, as revised over time; as well as international...
The primary law governing nationalityof Ireland is the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, which came into force on 17 July 1956. Ireland is...
French nationalitylaw is historically based on the principles of jus soli (Latin for "right of soil") and jus sanguinis, according to Ernest Renan's definition...
Argentine nationalitylaw regulates the manner in which one acquires, or is eligible to acquire, Argentine nationality. Nationality, as used in international...
Brazilian nationalitylaw details the conditions by which a person is a national of Brazil. The primary law governing nationality requirements is the...
Somali nationalitylaw is regulated by the Constitution of Somalia, as amended; the Somali Citizenship Law, and its revisions; and various international...
Peruvian nationalitylaw is regulated by the 1993 Constitution of Peru, the NationalityLaw 26574 of 1996, and the Supreme Decree 010-2002-IN, which regulates...
Republic of Afghanistan nationalitylaw is regulated by the Constitution of Afghanistan, as amended; the Citizenship Lawof the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan...
Singapore nationalitylaw details the conditions by which a person holds Singapore nationality. The primary law governing nationality requirements is...
Australian nationalitylaw details the conditions by which a person is a national of Australia. The primary law governing nationality regulations is the...
Ukrainian nationalitylaw details the conditions by which a person holds nationalityof Ukraine. The primary law governing these requirements is the law "On...
Liberian nationalitylaw is regulated by the Constitution of Liberia, as amended; the Aliens and NationalityLaw, and its revisions; and various international...