Immigration Glossary

An official letter sent by CIC advising you of the decision on your case and what you must do next.

A person who has been convicted of a crime outside Canada may become admissible or be deemed rehabilitated after 5 or 10 years has passed, except in cases of serious criminality. No application is required to be considered for deemed rehabilitation. Whether someone qualifies for deemed rehabilitation depends on their individual circumstances.

A removal order issued by either a Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) officer or the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) an independent administrative tribunal responsible for deciding immigration and refugee matters. Departure orders are issued against people who have violated Canada’s immigration law. The person named on a departure order must leave Canada within 30 days. If they do not, the departure order becomes a deportation order.

A spouse, common-law partner or dependent child of a permanent resident or principal applicant.

A child who meets certain conditions, including age and marital status. A dependent child can be either a biological child or an adopted child.

A removal order issued by either a CBSA officer or the IRB. It requires the person to leave Canada due to serious offences or serious violations of Canada’s immigration law. A person deported from Canada may not return without written permission from the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

A private business that is a member of the National Angel Capital Organization (NACO) and which has been designated by the Minister.

A private business that is a member of the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (CVCA) and that has been designated by the Minister.

A process for a child born and adopted abroad by Canadian parents to be granted citizenship without having to immigrate to Canada first.

Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship is the only official study guide for the citizenship knowledge test. An applicant should study from this guide to prepare for the citizenship test. If an applicant uses any other material to prepare for the citizenship test, they do so at their own risk.

Divorced means that a court has granted a divorce and that a marriage has ended. The two people are no longer married.

When a person is a legal citizen of two or more countries at the same time. Dual or multiple citizenship is permitted under Canada’s citizenship laws. Some other countries do not allow it.