Canada Expands Citizenship Eligibility Under Bill C-3: What It Means for You

On December 15, 2025, significant changes to Canadian citizenship law came into force with Bill C-3, An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act (2025). These changes mark one of the most important updates to citizenship by descent in decades, offering a clearer and more inclusive pathway to Canadian citizenship for people born or adopted abroad.

1. Background: The Old “First-Generation Limit” and Why It Matters

Before Bill C-3, Canadian citizenship by descent was limited by the first-generation rule: a Canadian citizen could pass citizenship to a child born abroad, but that child (born outside Canada) could not automatically pass citizenship to their own children born outside Canada.

This rule left many families with strong connections to Canada without legal citizenship, sometimes even rendering children stateless.

Despite decades of court challenges and partial fixes, that outdated limit effectively barred second and later generations born abroad from automatic citizenship, until now.

2. Bill C-3 Is Now Law: What Changed

Bill C-3 received royal assent and came into effect on December 15, 2025, making formal changes to the Citizenship Act that expand how citizenship by descent is determined.

A. Expands Eligibility for Those Born Before Dec 15, 2025

Individuals who were born or adopted outside Canada before December 15, 2025, whose citizenship was previously denied solely due to the first-generation limit, are now recognised as Canadian citizens. These people can now apply for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship) without needing special discretion or exceptions.

This group includes:

• People born abroad in the second or later generation

• Descendants of “Lost Canadians” excluded by earlier law

• People adopted abroad by a Canadian parent also born abroad

  
  

These individuals do not need to prove a substantial connection to Canada to qualify, the law automatically recognises them as citizens.

B. Citizenship Rules for People Born or Adopted After Dec 15, 2025

For children born or adopted abroad on or after December 15, 2025, a new eligibility standard applies:

• The Canadian parent (who was born or adopted abroad) must demonstrate a “substantial connection” to Canada — generally meaning at least 1,095 days (three years) of physical presence in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption.

This new framework replaces the blunt first-generation cutoff with a more flexible standard that recognises meaningful ties to Canada.

3. Practical Impacts for Families and Applicants

Who May Now Qualify?

Under Bill C-3, people in the following situations may be eligible:

• Lost Canadians: individuals previously excluded by the first-generation rule

• Children born abroad to Canadian parents (even if the parent was also born abroad)

• People adopted abroad before Dec 15, 2025, to Canadian parents

• Many descendants of Canadians who once lost citizenship due to outdated retention provisions Canada

  
  

What You Should Do Next

If you believe you or a family member now qualifies:

1. Check your status — even if a previous application was refused.

2. Apply for a citizenship certificate to get formal proof of your Canadian citizenship.

3. Gather documentation showing birth, parentage, and, if applicable, physical presence in Canada for post-2025 applicants.

Important: If you have an ongoing application with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) filed under earlier rules or interim measures, it will be reviewed under the new Bill C-3 criteria without needing re-submission.

4. What This Means for Immigration Planning

Bill C-3 offers both clarity and broader opportunities. For many families living abroad, the ability to secure Canadian citizenship for multiple generations fundamentally changes long-term planning, affecting:

• Education and healthcare access in Canada

• Travel and residency rights

• Sponsor eligibility for family immigration streams

• Work and settlement opportunities across Canada

Importantly, the law also encourages applicants to maintain real connections to Canada through the “substantial connection” standard for children born after Dec 15, 2025.

Conclusion

Bill C-3 marks a major shift in Canadian citizenship law, ending a long-standing barrier that limited citizenship strictly to the first generation born abroad. By giving citizenship recognition to those previously excluded and setting a clear standard for future generations, the law aligns legal frameworks with how modern families live and connect across borders.

If you think you or your child may now be eligible for Canadian citizenship under these new rules, or if you have questions about how to apply for proof of citizenship, contact Bhardwaj Law. We provide tailored advice and assistance for complex citizenship matters.

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