Bill C-3 received royal assent on November 20, 2025, and came into effect on December 15, 2025, marking a historic transformation in Canadian citizenship law. This landmark legislation eliminates the controversial first-generation limit and provides automatic citizenship to thousands of “Lost Canadians” who were previously excluded due to outdated rules.
If you or your family members were born outside Canada to Canadian parents who were also born abroad, this new law may finally grant you the citizenship you’ve been seeking. Understanding these changes is critical for anyone affected by the previous restrictions.
What Bill C-3 Changes: Breaking Down the Historic Reform
Bill C-3 amends the Citizenship Act to extend access to citizenship to those born abroad to Canadian citizens or those adopted abroad by Canadians born abroad beyond the first generation. This represents the most significant update to Canadian citizenship by descent rules in over 15 years.
The First-Generation Limit: What It Was and Why It’s Gone
Before Bill C-3, Canada’s Citizenship Act imposed a first-generation limit (FGL) on citizenship by descent. This meant that if you were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent who was also born outside Canada, you could not claim Canadian citizenship—even if your grandparent was born in Canada.
In December 2023, the Ontario Superior Court Justice declared the second-generation limit provisions unconstitutional, stating the legislation created two classes of Canadian citizens with unequal rights. The federal government chose not to appeal, recognizing the law’s unfairness.
Immediate Impact: Who Automatically Becomes Canadian
People born before December 15, 2025, who would have been citizens if not for the first-generation limit or other outdated rules, are now Canadian and can apply for proof of citizenship.
This automatic conferral means:
No application was needed for citizenship itself — it was granted automatically when the law took effect. However, you must still apply for proof of citizenship to receive official documentation.
Historical injustices are corrected — Children and grandchildren of Canadian citizens who were previously excluded can now claim their rightful status.
Lost Canadians are restored — Individuals who lost citizenship under outdated provisions (such as the former Section 8 requirement to apply for retention by age 28) have their citizenship automatically restored.
Who Is Eligible Under the New Law?
Bill C-3 creates two distinct pathways depending on when you were born or adopted.
For Those Born or Adopted Before December 15, 2025
If you were born or adopted outside Canada before December 15, 2025, you automatically became a Canadian citizen if:
- Your parent was a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth or adoption, regardless of where your parent was born
- You were previously denied citizenship solely due to the first-generation limit
- You lost citizenship under former provisions requiring retention applications
This applies to second, third, and subsequent generations born abroad to Canadian parents, with no generational cutoff for those born before the effective date.
For Those Born or Adopted On or After December 15, 2025
A Canadian parent born or adopted abroad can now pass on citizenship to their child born or adopted outside Canada today or in the future, provided they demonstrate they spent three years in Canada prior to their child’s birth or adoption.
Specifically, children born or adopted abroad on or after December 15, 2025, qualify for citizenship if:
- At least one parent is a Canadian citizen at the time of birth or adoption
- That Canadian parent was also born or adopted outside Canada
- The Canadian parent meets the “substantial connection to Canada” test
Understanding the Substantial Connection Test
The substantial connection requirement mandates that the Canadian parent prove they were physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 cumulative days (three years) before their child’s birth or adoption.
Key points about this requirement:
Cumulative, not consecutive — The three years don’t need to be continuous. Days can be accumulated over any period of the parent’s lifetime before the child’s birth.
Physical presence counts — Only days physically in Canada count. Time spent outside Canada, even for work or study, doesn’t contribute.
Documentation required — Parents must provide evidence such as school records, employment history, tax returns, travel documents, or other proof of Canadian residence.
Similar to permanent residence requirement — This echoes the process of attaining Canadian citizenship after living in Canada for 1,095 days as a permanent resident, reinforcing that citizenship by descent requires genuine connection.
No requirement for those born in Canada — If the Canadian parent was born or naturalized in Canada (not just born abroad), they can pass citizenship to their child born abroad without meeting the three-year test.
Who Are “Lost Canadians” and How Does Bill C-3 Help Them?
“Lost Canadians” are people who lost or never acquired citizenship due to outdated provisions in the first Canadian Citizenship Act of 1947.
Historical Context: Why Canadians Lost Their Status
The 1947 Citizenship Act and its amendments created numerous scenarios where people either lost citizenship or never obtained it:
Gender discrimination — Before 1947, Canadian women who married foreign nationals automatically lost their citizenship and couldn’t pass it to children born abroad. Canadian men in identical circumstances retained citizenship and could pass it to their children.
Retention requirements — Between 1947 and 2009, people born abroad to Canadian parents had to apply to “retain” citizenship before age 28 or lose it automatically.
Legitimacy requirements — Children born out of wedlock to Canadian fathers couldn’t claim citizenship in certain periods.
Adoption rules — Children adopted abroad by Canadian parents faced different standards depending on when and where the adoption occurred.
Previous Reforms and Remaining Gaps
Changes made in 2009 and 2015 restored or provided citizenship to most Lost Canadians, with about 20,000 people coming forward to seek proof of citizenship.
However, significant gaps remained:
- Second and subsequent generations born abroad after 2009 were excluded by the first-generation limit
- Descendants of Lost Canadians who never obtained citizenship remained excluded
- Section 8 cases (those who failed to apply for retention by age 28) weren’t fully addressed
Complete Resolution Under Bill C-3
Bill C-3 restores citizenship to remaining Lost Canadians, their descendants, and anyone born abroad to a Canadian parent in the second or subsequent generations before the legislation came into force.
This comprehensive approach means virtually all historical cases of lost or denied citizenship due to discriminatory or outdated provisions are now resolved.
How to Apply for Proof of Canadian Citizenship
Automatic citizenship under Bill C-3 doesn’t mean you automatically receive documents. You must apply for proof of citizenship to get official recognition.
Who Needs to Apply
You should apply for a citizenship certificate if:
- You were born or adopted outside Canada before December 15, 2025, and became a citizen under Bill C-3
- You need official documentation of your Canadian citizenship
- You want to obtain a Canadian passport
- You require proof of citizenship for employment, travel, or legal purposes
Application Process
Form CIT 0001E — Complete the Application for a Citizenship Certificate (Proof of Canadian Citizenship). This form is available on the IRCC website.
Required documents typically include:
- Birth certificate (your own and your Canadian parent’s)
- Your Canadian parent’s proof of citizenship (birth certificate if born in Canada, or citizenship certificate)
- Marriage certificates (if applicable)
- Adoption records (for adopted individuals)
- Evidence of your parent’s physical presence in Canada (if born on or after December 15, 2025)
- Valid identification with photo
- Two identical citizenship photos meeting specifications
Processing times — IRCC has not yet published specific processing times for Bill C-3 applications. Given the volume of expected applications, delays are likely. Apply as early as possible.
Fees — Check the IRCC website for current citizenship certificate application fees.
Where to submit — Follow the submission instructions on the IRCC website. Applications are typically submitted by mail to the Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
For Those Who Applied Under Interim Measures
Applicants who have already submitted a proof of citizenship application under the interim measures do not need to submit another application now that Bill C-3 has formally come into effect.
IRCC will process existing applications using the new Bill C-3 rules. You should receive communication from IRCC about your application status in due course.
For Adopted Children: Special Provisions
Bill C-3 includes specific provisions for children adopted abroad by Canadian parents.
Adoptions Before December 15, 2025
Children adopted outside Canada before December 15, 2025, by a Canadian parent (including a parent who was born or adopted abroad) can apply for Canadian citizenship through a direct grant under Section 5.1 of the Citizenship Act.
This applies regardless of whether the Canadian adoptive parent was born in Canada or abroad, removing previous generational restrictions.
Adoptions On or After December 15, 2025
Children adopted abroad on or after December 15, 2025, by a Canadian parent born abroad can receive citizenship if the adoptive parent demonstrates substantial connection to Canada — meaning at least 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada before the adoption.
Application process:
- Adoptive parents apply for a direct grant of citizenship for their adopted child
- Submit proof of adoption, citizenship of adoptive parent, and evidence of substantial connection
- Child receives citizenship upon approval (not automatically from adoption)
Simplified Renunciation Process for New Citizens
Some individuals who automatically gained citizenship under Bill C-3 may not want Canadian status due to:
- Tax implications of dual citizenship
- Mandatory military service in their country of residence
- Professional or legal restrictions on holding multiple citizenships
- Personal preference
A simplified renunciation process is available for those who gain citizenship but wish to renounce it, ensuring flexibility without forcing unwanted status.
This streamlined process allows new citizens to formally renounce Canadian citizenship more easily than the standard renunciation procedures.
The Remarkable Benefits of Canadian Citizenship
For those who gain citizenship under Bill C-3, the advantages are substantial and life-changing.
Rights Exclusive to Canadian Citizens
Voting rights — Participate fully in Canadian democracy at all levels: federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal elections.
Guaranteed entry to Canada — Citizens have an absolute right to enter Canada and cannot be denied entry or deemed inadmissible.
No residency requirements — Unlike permanent residents, citizens face no obligation to live in Canada or maintain any minimum presence.
Canadian passport — Access to one of the world’s most powerful passports, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 180 countries.
Political office eligibility — Run for political office and hold positions requiring security clearance.
Citizenship for children — Pass citizenship to your own children, subject to the substantial connection test if you were born abroad.
Additional Advantages
Family sponsorship — Greater flexibility in sponsoring family members for Canadian permanent residence, including faster processing times.
Protection abroad — Receive consular assistance and protection from Canadian embassies and consulates worldwide.
Social benefits — Full access to all Canadian social programs without restrictions.
Educational opportunities — Qualify for domestic tuition rates and Canada-specific scholarships.
Dual citizenship — Canada permits dual (or multiple) citizenship, allowing you to maintain other nationalities.
Historical Timeline: The Long Road to Bill C-3
Understanding the journey to Bill C-3 helps contextualize its significance.
1947: The First Citizenship Act
Canada’s first Citizenship Act created Canadian citizenship as distinct from British subject status. However, it included discriminatory provisions based on gender and legitimacy.
2009: First Major Reform
The Conservative government amended the Citizenship Act to restore citizenship to most Lost Canadians. However, it simultaneously introduced the first-generation limit for births abroad on or after April 17, 2009.
Rationale provided: Prevent “citizens of convenience” and maintain citizenship’s value by requiring connection to Canada.
Effect: Created a new class of excluded individuals — second-generation Canadians born abroad.
2015: Additional Amendments
Further changes addressed remaining gaps but didn’t eliminate the first-generation limit.
December 19, 2023: Court Declares FGL Unconstitutional
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled in Bjorkquist et al. v. Attorney General of Canada that the first-generation limit violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Key finding: The law created two classes of citizenship with unequal rights, discriminating based on national origin.
Court’s remedy: Declared provisions unconstitutional but suspended the declaration to give Parliament time to legislate a solution.
2023-2025: Extensions and Interim Measures
The federal government requested multiple extensions to develop proper legislation. Meanwhile, IRCC implemented interim measures allowing affected individuals to apply for citizenship while Parliament worked on Bill C-3.
June 5, 2025: Bill C-3 Introduced
The Government of Canada introduced Bill C-3 to extend citizenship by descent beyond the first generation based on substantial connection to Canada.
November 20, 2025: Royal Assent
Bill C-3 received Royal Assent, completing its passage through Parliament.
December 15, 2025: Law Takes Effect
Bill C-3 came into effect, recognizing new eligible citizens and applying new rules for passing on citizenship going forward.
Comparing Canada to Other Countries
How does Canada’s approach to citizenship by descent compare internationally?
United States
The U.S. has no generational limit but requires that American parents meet specific residency requirements in the U.S. before their child’s birth abroad. The requirements vary based on whether one or both parents are American citizens.
United Kingdom
The UK generally limits automatic citizenship by descent to one generation born abroad. Second-generation citizens must typically register before age 18 or demonstrate substantial UK connection.
Australia
Australia limits citizenship by descent to children born abroad to an Australian citizen parent who was either born in Australia or became a citizen before the child’s birth. This effectively creates a one-generation limit similar to Canada’s previous law.
Ireland
Ireland recently introduced residency requirements for citizenship by descent to second and subsequent generations, requiring parents to have lived in Ireland or demonstrate genuine connection.
Canada’s Balanced Approach
Bill C-3 strikes a middle ground: it removes arbitrary generational cutoffs for those born before the law’s effective date, while requiring demonstrated connection (three years’ presence) for future generations born abroad.
This approach:
- Corrects historical injustices comprehensively
- Maintains citizenship’s value through connection requirements
- Provides clarity and fairness for Canadian families living abroad
- Aligns with international norms while remaining generous
Practical Considerations and Next Steps
If you believe you may qualify for citizenship under Bill C-3, take these important steps.
1. Determine Your Eligibility
Gather information about:
- Your date and place of birth
- Your parent’s citizenship status at your birth
- Where your parent was born
- Whether you were previously denied citizenship or lost it
Use IRCC’s online resources to determine if you qualify, or consult with an immigration lawyer for complex situations.
2. Collect Supporting Documents
Start gathering documentation now, as assembling records can take significant time:
- Birth certificates (yours, your parent’s, potentially grandparent’s)
- Citizenship certificates
- Marriage and divorce certificates
- Name change documents
- Adoption records
- Travel documents
- Proof of residence in Canada (for substantial connection test)
3. Complete Your Application Accurately
Take time to fill out Form CIT 0001E carefully. Errors or omissions can delay processing significantly. Consider professional assistance if your situation is complicated.
4. Submit and Monitor
Submit your application according to IRCC instructions. Keep copies of everything you send. Monitor your application through your IRCC online account if available.
5. Expect Processing Delays
Given the anticipated volume of applications from thousands of newly eligible Canadians, processing times will likely be lengthy. Apply early and be patient.
6. Plan for Using Your Citizenship
Once you receive your citizenship certificate:
- Apply for a Canadian passport
- Update your records with employers, banks, and government agencies
- Explore opportunities for living, working, or studying in Canada
- Consider how to maintain your substantial connection if you plan to pass citizenship to future children
Common Questions and Concerns
Can I hold dual citizenship?
Yes. Canada permits dual (and multiple) citizenship. Gaining Canadian citizenship doesn’t require you to renounce other nationalities, though your other country of citizenship may have its own rules.
Will I owe Canadian taxes?
Canadian citizens who don’t reside in Canada generally aren’t subject to Canadian income tax. Canada uses residence-based taxation, not citizenship-based taxation (unlike the United States). Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What if my parent is deceased?
Your parent doesn’t need to be alive for you to claim citizenship. If your parent was a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth, that’s what matters. You’ll need documentation of their citizenship status.
What if I have a criminal record?
Criminal history doesn’t affect automatic citizenship granted under Bill C-3. However, serious criminality could affect your ability to enter Canada even as a citizen.
How long will processing take?
IRCC hasn’t published specific timelines. Based on historical citizenship application processing, expect several months to over a year, especially in the initial period following Bill C-3.
Can I pass citizenship to my children?
If you were born in Canada or naturalized in Canada, yes, without restriction.
If you were born outside Canada and gained citizenship under Bill C-3, you can pass citizenship to your children born abroad if you meet the substantial connection test (1,095 days in Canada before their birth).
What if I was adopted?
Adopted children have specific provisions under Bill C-3. Those adopted before December 15, 2025, can apply for citizenship. Those adopted on or after that date need their Canadian adoptive parent to meet the substantial connection test.
Resources and Official Information
Always rely on official sources for the most current and accurate information:
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
- Website: www.canada.ca/citizenship
- Citizenship information line: 1-888-242-2100 (within Canada)
Application forms and guides
- Form CIT 0001E: Application for a Citizenship Certificate
- Available at: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides.html
Legal assistance
- Consider consulting a citizenship lawyer or regulated Canadian immigration consultant (RCIC) for complex cases
- Verify credentials through regulatory bodies
Community organizations
- Many organizations serve Lost Canadians and those affected by citizenship issues
- These groups can provide support, information, and advocacy
The Significance of Bill C-3: Beyond Individual Impact
While Bill C-3 primarily affects individuals and families, its significance extends to broader principles of Canadian identity and values.
Reinforcing Equality
By eliminating discriminatory provisions that treated citizens differently based on where they or their parents were born, Bill C-3 reinforces Canada’s constitutional commitment to equality.
Acknowledging Historical Wrongs
The legislation represents a formal recognition that previous citizenship laws created unjust outcomes and harmed Canadian families. This acknowledgment matters for reconciliation and healing.
Modernizing for Global Families
Many Canadians choose to study abroad, travel to experience another culture, or relocate for family or personal reasons while maintaining meaningful connection to Canada. Bill C-3 recognizes this modern reality.
Strengthening the Canadian Diaspora
By expanding who can claim Canadian citizenship, Bill C-3 grows the global Canadian community, potentially benefiting Canada through enhanced cultural ties, trade connections, and international influence.
Conclusion: A New Chapter for Canadian Citizenship
Bill C-3 represents a watershed moment in Canadian citizenship law. For thousands of people who were previously excluded due to arbitrary rules or historical discrimination, this legislation offers long-awaited recognition and belonging.
If you or your family members were born outside Canada to Canadian parents, now is the time to explore whether you qualify for citizenship under these new provisions. The pathway is clear, the barriers are removed, and Canada is ready to welcome you as a full citizen.
Key takeaways:
✓ Bill C-3 took effect December 15, 2025, automatically granting citizenship to eligible individuals born before that date
✓ The first-generation limit has been eliminated for those born or adopted before December 15, 2025
✓ Future generations born abroad can access citizenship if their Canadian parent demonstrates substantial connection (1,095 days in Canada)
✓ Lost Canadians and their descendants finally have their citizenship restored
✓ You must still apply for proof of citizenship even if you gained it automatically
✓ Canada welcomes dual citizenship, and citizenship by descent creates no automatic tax obligations
✓ Processing applications will take time due to the volume — apply as soon as possible
The changes brought by Bill C-3 affirm that Canadian citizenship is inclusive, values genuine connection, and corrects historical injustices. Whether you’re applying for proof of citizenship for yourself, preparing to pass citizenship to your children, or simply understanding your new status, this legislation opens doors that were previously closed.
Welcome to the Canadian family.
