My children have been to 28 countries on six continents. I like to think that makes them citizens of the world.
However, crossing borders isn’t that easy, even for my well-traveled family. We still need to apply for visas for many countries, and ensure we don’t overstay our welcome. I’m always looking for ways to make freedom of movement easier, and to give my children advantages I never had.
While doom scrolling one night, a post from a neighbor stopped me in my tracks. Her children and husband had recently become Canadian citizens through a new law that allows almost any descendant of a Canadian to claim a passport emblazoned with a maple leaf.
My children are descended from Canadians on their father’s side, and I didn’t waste any time getting their citizenship applications submitted.
I want my children to have more options to follow their dreams
As newlyweds, my husband and I visited British Columbia. We fell in love with the province’s beauty and slower pace of life. We immediately started looking into various paths to moving to Canada, but none were viable.
At that time, nearly 20 years ago, my husband wasn’t eligible to claim Canadian citizenship, even though his Grandfather was born and raised in Ontario. We spent several hours researching our options and even visited a Canadian consulate to make sure we weren’t missing anything. Eventually, my husband and I realized that the only way we could legally spend time in Canada was as tourists, so we gave up on our dream of living there.
Canada is a viable option for college
Because I have two children in high school, we often talk about the best options for college and a realistic budget. With Canadian citizenship, my children have more options for higher education.
Since applying for citizenship, the discussion has changed radically.
In Canada, my children will be able to get a great education for a fraction of the cost of attending college in the United States. Because Canada borders the US, instruction is in English, and there are many cultural similarities, attending college in Canada is a viable option.
Even though my husband and I had help paying for college and graduate school, we still spent many years paying down student loan debt. With the lower cost of higher education in Canada, I hope my children can avoid a similar fate.
Canadian citizenship opens work options for my children when they become young adults
Even if my children stay in the United States for college, Canadian citizenship opens up the possibility of living and working abroad — and not just in Canada. International Expereince Canada, colloquially known as the Working Holiday visa, allows young Canadians ages 18 to 35 to work in more than 35 countries and territories worldwide.
When I was fresh out of college, I wanted to spend a couple of years working abroad, but I couldn’t get a visa. Although I traveled as much as I could, it wasn’t the same. I’m glad that, as Canadians, my children will have more opportunities to experience working anywhere from Costa Rica to Korea as they launch into adulthood.
Canadian citizenship means more secure access to healthcare
Although my family has excellent health insurance in the United States, I always worry that our access to medical care could change at any point. That’s especially true for my oldest daughter, who is disabled and medically complex.
Although we don’t want to burden the Canadian medical system, I can sleep better at night knowing that my children will be able to access Canada’s national healthcare system if they need to.
Canada has a more powerful passport than the United States
Every year, Hensley and Partners issues the Passport Index ranking the most powerful passports in the world. The United States currently stands at the 10th most powerful passport, while Canada is ranked at number seven.
With a Canadian passport, my children will have visa-free access to more countries, which makes travel easier. I want my children to be able to explore every corner of the world, and anything that makes that easier is an advantage.
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