Citizenship

Part A - Short definition:

Not applicable

Part B - Detailed definition:

Citizenship refers to the legal citizenship status of a person. Citizenship can be by birth or naturalization. A person may have more than one citizenship. A person may be stateless, that is, they may have no citizenship.

Reported in:

2011

Reported for:

Population in private households

Question number(s):

Direct variable: Question 10

Responses:

Response categories included 'Canada, by birth,' 'Canada, by naturalization,' and 'Other country – Specify.' A write-in space for country of citizenship (other than Canada) was provided. Respondents were asked to indicate more than one citizenship, if applicable.

Refer to Appendix 1.6 for the classification of countries of citizenship for the 2011 National Household Survey.

Remarks:

The 2011 NHS citizenship question asked: 'Of what country is this person a citizen?' Note accompanying the citizenship question stated:

• Indicate more than one citizenship, if applicable.
• 'Canada, by naturalization' refers to the process by which an immigrant is granted citizenship of Canada, under the Citizenship Act.

As well, additional instructions were provided to respondents in the 2011 NHS Guide:

• For persons born in Canada, unless—at the time of their birth—one or both parents were government representatives of another country (for example, in diplomatic service) and neither parent was a Canadian citizen or a landed immigrant:
  • mark 'Canada, by birth.'
• For persons born outside Canada if, at the time of their birth, one or both parents were Canadian citizens:
  • mark 'Canada, by birth.'
• For persons who have applied for, and have been granted, Canadian citizenship (for example, persons who have been issued a Canadian citizenship certificate):
  • mark 'Canada, by naturalization.'
• For persons who were born outside Canada and have not become Canadian citizens:
  • report under 'Other country' the name of the other country for which they hold citizenship.
• For persons who are dual citizens of Canada and another country, do not report 'dual citizenship':
  • mark either 'Canada, by birth' or 'Canada, by naturalization,' and report the name of the other country.

For further information on this population, refer to Figure 1.6 - Immigrants, non-immigrants and non-permanent residents: Citizenship.

For additional information on the collection and dissemination of citizenship data, refer to the Place of Birth, Generation Status, Citizenship and Immigration Reference Guide, National Household Survey, 2011.