A person may be a citizen of more than one country. This can happen automatically, based on the citizenship laws of the countries involved. It can happen by marriage. It can also happen by voluntary application based on a country's laws and requirements.

Often when applying for citizenship with another country, individuals are required to provide documentation of lineage in the form of their own birth and marriage records and the birth, death and marriage records of their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and beyond.

The processes and requirements for applying for citizenship are developed by each individual country and vary from country to country. Many countries require certified copies of vital events in order to verify an applicant's claim of lineage.

Countries will sometimes require that records to be submitted with citizenship applications be authenticated or apostilled. For information about this process, visit our Apostille information page.

When applying for records, to which you are not otherwise entitled, for dual citizenship purposes, you may be required to include documentation of your relationship to the person whose record you are requesting. Uncertified copies of birth, marriage or death certificates showing relationship to the person are sufficient. You must submit the documentation you have and we will contact you if it is not sufficient.