Canada has passed legislation that will change how citizenship is transferred to children born outside the country. Bill C-3, which received royal assent on November 21st, 2025, introduces a new system based on a parent’s connection to Canada rather than the generation in which a child is born.
According to Immigration News Canada (INC), the law is now official but will only take effect once a coming-into-force date is announced. Until then, an interim process continues for people affected by the current first-generation limit.
Main Change: Ending the First-Generation Limit
Under existing rules, Canadian citizens born abroad cannot automatically pass citizenship to their children if the children are also born abroad. This restriction has affected families with long-standing connections to Canada, including those who lived overseas for work, education, or temporary assignments.
The new law removes this generational restriction. Instead, a Canadian parent will be able to pass on citizenship if they meet a substantial-connection requirement. The government has indicated that this connection will generally involve at least 1,095 days spent in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption, although final details will come through regulation.
Restoring Eligibility for People Previously Excluded
Bill C-3 also applies to people born before the law takes effect. If someone would have been a Canadian citizen at birth but was prevented from obtaining citizenship because of the first-generation limit or older rules, their entitlement will now be recognized once the law is operational.
People in this group will still need to apply for proof of citizenship, but the legal basis for their claim will be established directly through the amended Act.
This includes individuals whose parents or grandparents were Canadian but who were blocked by earlier restrictions, including old retention requirements that caused some people to lose citizenship automatically if they did not apply before a certain age.
Rules for Children Born in the Future
Once the law comes into force, the rules for children born or adopted abroad will shift to the new connection-based system. A child may be recognized as a Canadian citizen if one parent is a Canadian citizen and either:
- Was born or naturalized in Canada, or
- Was born or adopted abroad but can show substantial connection.
- Adopted children will be treated under the same framework as biological children.
Crown servants and their dependants will continue to have exceptions that recognize service performed outside Canada, and time spent abroad with a crown servant may count toward establishing connection.
Interim Process Until Implementation
As the law is not yet active, IRCC is using an interim measure to assist affected individuals. An online questionnaire helps people determine whether the current first-generation limit applies to them. Applicants may submit requests for a citizenship certificate, a citizenship grant, or discretionary consideration, depending on their circumstances. Applications filed now will be assessed under the new law once it becomes effective.
Urgent cases may be eligible for priority processing if lack of citizenship affects work, travel, health coverage, or legal status.
Impact on Families
INC cites that the change is expected to resolve long-running barriers for thousands of Canadians abroad who maintained ties to the country. The new system removes the automatic generational cut-off and replaces it with a consistent rule based on demonstrated connection.
