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prairiegirl11

Newbie
Jul 16, 2025
4
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I have been a permanent resident of Canada since April 2019. My husband sponsored me and I haven't applied for my Canadian Citizenship yet. I am aware of the fact, all my life, that the parents who raised me are not my biological parents. Due to some unfortunate circumstances I was raised by them. I never had a choice. They have been my guardians all my life. They are very kind to me and I am reciprocating the same mainly financially but also through other means with the help of my husband. I also have them as my parents on all legal documents here in Canada and India. I came to know that through a court order I can change the name of my parents on all of the documents in India. Please correct me if I am wrong. I got my legal parents consent to change the name of my parents and they are happy that I can do it. I have no problem continuing them as my parents but I want to know if I can change my parent names in Canada Immigration documents if they are done in India through court order? Please don't judge me. I know what I went through all my life without having my biological parents around me. Thank you for all the suggestions in advance.
 
I have been a permanent resident of Canada since April 2019. My husband sponsored me and I haven't applied for my Canadian Citizenship yet. I am aware of the fact, all my life, that the parents who raised me are not my biological parents. Due to some unfortunate circumstances I was raised by them. I never had a choice. They have been my guardians all my life. They are very kind to me and I am reciprocating the same mainly financially but also through other means with the help of my husband. I also have them as my parents on all legal documents here in Canada and India. I came to know that through a court order I can change the name of my parents on all of the documents in India. Please correct me if I am wrong. I got my legal parents consent to change the name of my parents and they are happy that I can do it. I have no problem continuing them as my parents but I want to know if I can change my parent names in Canada Immigration documents if they are done in India through court order? Please don't judge me. I know what I went through all my life without having my biological parents around me. Thank you for all the suggestions in advance.
This is all your business, no need to worry about that.

If you reside in Canada, you should do this by changing your name by the procedures in your province. In all provinces but Quebec, it's quite straightforward and rather similar, you file an application with the relevant ministry (usually some section within the justice ministry/attorney general/civil registry, sometimes a separate agency). Just internet-search for change of name-province.

Usually takes 1-3 months, there may be additional requirements, etc. Once you get the legal change of name document (which may or may not be called a court order) - take your change of name docuent and change your provincial docs (eg driver's license), and with that, you apply to change your PR card due to change of name.

You can apply for citizenship and all that. Personally I'd suggest EITHER changing the name before you apply for citizenship, OR accept that you may end up with citizenship certificate in the old name. This doesn't matter much, you can apply for passport using change of name doc and get passport with new name (and after that, if you really want, you can apply for an updated citizenship certificate - but the truth is you hardly ever need your citizenship certificate except to apply for your passport).
 
This is all your business, no need to worry about that.

If you reside in Canada, you should do this by changing your name by the procedures in your province. In all provinces but Quebec, it's quite straightforward and rather similar, you file an application with the relevant ministry (usually some section within the justice ministry/attorney general/civil registry, sometimes a separate agency). Just internet-search for change of name-province.

Usually takes 1-3 months, there may be additional requirements, etc. Once you get the legal change of name document (which may or may not be called a court order) - take your change of name docuent and change your provincial docs (eg driver's license), and with that, you apply to change your PR card due to change of name.

You can apply for citizenship and all that. Personally I'd suggest EITHER changing the name before you apply for citizenship, OR accept that you may end up with citizenship certificate in the old name. This doesn't matter much, you can apply for passport using change of name doc and get passport with new name (and after that, if you really want, you can apply for an updated citizenship certificate - but the truth is you hardly ever need your citizenship certificate except to apply for your passport).
Thank you for the suggestion. But did you meant that through a provincial application you can change the names of your mother and Dad. Thank you
 
One thing to consider in advance is if you are considering/anticipating any future sponsorship of your adoptive parents (Super Visa/PR), You'll likely be limited to one set of parents listed that you can sponsor. Just something to be aware of in advance.
 
One thing to consider in advance is if you are considering/anticipating any future sponsorship of your adoptive parents (Super Visa/PR), You'll likely be limited to one set of parents listed that you can sponsor. Just something to be aware of in advance.
Thank you for the reply. I am not anticipating my adopted parents coming to canada because of their age and health. In the future my biological parents might come. I want to have my biological parents on all my documents going ahead in my life. I feel like i finally made peace with myself after meeting my biological parents...
 
Thank you for the reply. I am not anticipating my adopted parents coming to canada because of their age and health. In the future my biological parents might come. I want to have my biological parents on all my documents going ahead in my life. I feel like i finally made peace with myself after meeting my biological parents...
The PGP sponsorship won't be available for a while. It's a good opportunity to spend time with your biological parents to make sure that you get along with them and are willing to eventually have a chance to sponsor them. If they landed as PRs under your sponsorship, you will be responsible for them for 20 years.
(20 years undertaking if the rule stays the same.)
They shouldn't obtain any social assistance and if they do, you will have to repay the government.
 
Thank you for the reply. Honestly, the most i am expecting is a visitor visa for my biological parents to visit me in canada for 3 to 4 months during summer.
 
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Thank you for the suggestion. But did you meant that through a provincial application you can change the names of your mother and Dad. Thank you
I don't believe, if you were born outside of Canada, that Canada retains the register for or any legal document attesting to your parentage whatsoever.

IRCC may have had some documentation before when you told them who your parents were, and a copy of your birth certificate.

I doubt there is any need at this point to 'change' any such records - and not until such time as you attempt to sponsor (possibly for the supervisa if they wish to). Deal with that when the time comes. For a TRV, you don't 'sponsor', you can provide whatever support docs you like but they're not legally binding.

I.e. in this context will be fine to just say they are your birth parents and you'd like them to visit - showing any docs you have if you wish. Note: TRV applications are predominantly evaluated for approval based on the applicants. In other words, I don't think 'proving' they are your birth parents or having legal docs that they are 'officially' your parents is going to make any difference.