Canada citizenship rules change under Bill C-3

Canada has enacted a major reform to its citizenship framework with the coming into force of Bill C-3 on December 15, 2025. The amendment to the Citizenship Act addresses long-standing grievances faced by thousands of people previously excluded from citizenship due to restrictive descent rules. The change has wide implications for families with generational ties to Canada living abroad.

What Bill C-3 introduces

Bill C-3 removes barriers created by the earlier “first-generation limit” on citizenship by descent. Under the new law, individuals born or adopted outside Canada before December 15, 2025, who were denied citizenship solely because their Canadian parent was also born abroad, are now recognised as Canadian citizens by law. Eligible individuals can apply for a citizenship certificate as official proof, granting access to passports, voting rights, and federal benefits.

Why reform was considered necessary

Before Bill C-3, Canadian citizenship by descent could only be passed down for one generation if the parent was born or naturalised in Canada. This resulted in many individuals, often called “Lost Canadians”, losing or never acquiring citizenship despite strong familial and cultural ties. Court rulings and sustained public pressure highlighted the inequities of the system, prompting legislative reform to better reflect modern mobility and family structures.

New rules for future generations

For children born or adopted abroad on or after December 15, 2025, citizenship by descent will require proof of a “substantial connection” to Canada. A Canadian parent who was also born or adopted abroad must demonstrate at least 1,095 days, or three cumulative years, of physical presence in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption. This rule applies equally to biological and adopted children and aims to balance fairness with a meaningful national connection.

What to Note for Exams?

• Bill C-3 came into force on December 15, 2025.
• It removes the first-generation limit retrospectively for those born earlier.
• Three years of physical presence is required for future citizenship by descent.
• The reform addresses the issue of “Lost Canadians”.

Who benefits and what to do next

Individuals who qualify automatically under Bill C-3 but have not previously applied must seek a citizenship certificate to formalise their status. Applications already submitted under interim measures following the 2023 court ruling will continue under the new law. The reform restores citizenship to affected families while establishing clearer rules for future generations, marking a significant shift in Canada’s approach to citizenship by descent.