How to apply for Canadian Citizenship Through Parents/Grandparents with limited documents – Part 2
In part one of this article, we covered how to proceed if you are missing certain documents when applying for a Canadian Citizenship Certificate. But what happens when you have all your documents, yet some of them show different names or inconsistent spellings?
You may have your parents’ marriage certificate, but one of the names doesn’t match what appears on their birth certificate. This becomes even more challenging if your parents are deceased, as you cannot request updated documents with corrected information. Most government authorities require affidavits and supporting ID to amend records, something that’s impossible to obtain for someone who has passed away.
Why the Long-Form Birth Certificate Matters
When applying for your first Canadian citizenship certificate, one of the key requirements is a long-form birth certificate. Unlike a short-form version, a long-form birth certificate provides more detailed information, typically including:
- Full name of the individual (with middle names or suffixes)
- Date and place of birth (city, province/state, country)
- Full names of the individual’s parents (including maiden names)
- Parents’ places of birth
- Parents’ occupations or identifying details
- Registration number or other reference identifiers
This document is often required for official purposes such as citizenship applications, passports, and other legal processes.
If you are married and your last name has changed, you must also submit your marriage certificate (not just the license or solemnization). Similarly, under the new process for Canadian citizenship through a grandparent, a long-form birth certificate or naturalization certificate for the grandparent will be mandatory.
All the certificates for any application must link together with matching names. The applicant must have a birth certificate that shows the parents’ names and the parents must have a birth certificate or naturalization certificate that, in turn, shows their parents names. This is what links everybody together.
If there are certificates that do not correlate with each other then it’s important to obtain the document that will link them. Most of the time this can be a marriage certificate or an official name change certificate.
What If the Documents Don’t Match?
When discrepancies exist and the person is deceased, you may not be able to obtain an updated certificate. In this case, the best solution is to prepare an affidavit.
What Is an Affidavit?
An affidavit is a sworn legal statement used to confirm that a deceased individual was known by different names or variations of a name. It is usually provided by someone familiar with the person’s identity such as a family member or close associate.
An affidavit should include:
- Identification: Full name and any aliases of the deceased.
- Details of Name Variations: Explanation of the circumstances behind the different names (legal changes, nicknames, spelling differences, etc.).
- Affiant Information: Full name, address, and relationship of the person making the affidavit.
- Notarization: Signature in the presence of a notary public, who verifies the affiant’s identity.
- Date and Place: When and where the affidavit was executed.
An affidavit explaining someone’s different names can be used to clarify any discrepancies or confusion regarding the individual’s identity, especially in legal or administrative matters such as estate settlement, probate, or the transfer of assets. It serves as a sworn statement under oath, attesting to the truthfulness and accuracy of the information provided.
If you submit an affidavit with your application and include an additional explanation letter, then you have a much higher chance of your application being approved.
Immigroup specializes in innovative solutions and through careful crafting of submission letters and citing case laws where necessary we are usually successful in helping our clients obtain their immigration documents.
