With Bill C-3 receiving the Royal Assent on November 20, 2025, following its final reading in the Senate on November 19, 2025, the legislation came into force on December 15, 2025. This means that as of this date, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will begin applying the amended Citizenship Act, recognizing newly eligible Canadian citizens and implementing the revised rules governing citizenship by descent, including provisions addressing “Lost Canadians” and extending citizenship beyond the first generation born abroad, subject to the substantial connection requirement.
Since this bill will reshape who can inherit Canadian citizenship through ancestry, it’s important to understand what it actually does and how it affects families in Canada and abroad.
What is Bill C-3 and Why Was It Needed?
Background and Context of the Bill C-3
Since the creation of Canada’s Citizenship Act in 1947, Canada’s Citizenship by Ancestry (CBA) program, more commonly called citizenship by descent, has provided a pathway for individuals to become Canadian citizens beyond geographical constraints. Since 2009, however, this connection has been constrained by the so-called “first-generation limit,” which allows Canadian citizenship to pass to only one generation born abroad. While this rule was originally intended to preserve the integrity of citizenship, its unintended consequence has been the creation of a generation of “Lost Canadians”, who are individuals with genuine ties to Canada who could not inherit citizenship because of geography or the timing of their birth.
How Bill C-3 Changes Canadian Citizenship by Ancestry
What Bill C-3 Means and the Expanding Framework of Citizenship by Ancestry
Bill C-3 removes the rigid barrier that previously confined citizenship by descent to a single generation, acting as a retrospective remedy for those affected by the old rules, as well as a prospective framework for those born in the future.
Who Automatically Qualifies for Canadian Citizenship Under Bill C-3?
Following the implementation of Bill C-3, any individuals born before December 15, 2025 may automatically become Canadian citizens if they would have been citizens but for the first-generation limit, or certain outdated provisions in earlier citizenship laws. Importantly, the amended framework does not impose an express generational limit on citizenship by descent, provided that the applicant can establish a qualifying Canadian parent. The Bill C-3 also ensures a simplified route to a direct grant of citizenship for all persons adopted outside Canada before the Bill’s commencement by a Canadian citizen parent who was previously unable to pass on citizenship due to the limit.
What is the Substantial Connection Requirement?
Canadians born abroad are now able to pass on citizenship to their own children born abroad, provided they can demonstrate a “substantial connection” to Canada on or after the Bill has come into force. The concept of substantial connection recognizes that citizenship is more than a matter of birthplace, reflecting the tangible bonds a person or family maintains with the country.
Notably, the “substantial connection” test only applies to individuals born or adopted abroad after December 15, 2025 (i.e. the date that these amendments take effect) to a Canadian parent who was also born or adopted abroad. This means that persons born or adopted outside Canada prior to December 15, 2025, and first-generation persons born or adopted abroad thereafter, are not required to establish a substantial connection to Canada when applying for proof of Canadian citizenship.
How Do You Prove Substantial Connection to Canada?
To meet this new threshold, a Canadian parent born outside Canada would need to have accumulated at least 1,095 days, approximately three years of physical presence in Canada before the birth or adoption of their child. This standard offers a transparent and objective way to measure genuine connection and replaces the arbitrary generational limit with a measurable test rooted in presence, experience, and participation in Canadian life.
These amendments also account for adopted children born abroad and for individuals who lost or were denied citizenship under outdated provisions of previous legislation.
Does the Substantial Connection Test Apply to First-Generation Canadians Born Abroad?
It is also important to understand that these changes do not apply to Canadians who are first-generation born abroad (a child born outside Canada to a Canadian-born or naturalized parent). These individuals are still automatic citizens and do not need to show any “substantial connection” to Canada.
How Harvey Law Group Can Help with Your Citizenship by Ancestry Application
When preparing a Citizenship by Ancestry application, expertise is critical. The process involves navigating complex eligibility rules, proving substantial connections, and ensuring documentation meets IRCC standards. Harvey Law Group’s experienced team provides the specialized knowledge and strategic guidance needed to present a strong application, helping clients avoid costly delays and maximize their chances of success.
At Harvey Law Group, our team of reputable Canadian immigration lawyers possesses extensive experience and expertise in Citizenship by Investment and Ancestry programs. We stay updated on the latest regulations and immigration policies to provide accurate and reliable guidance to our clients. By navigating the complexities of the program, we ensure compliance with the requirements and guidelines set by the immigration authorities, giving our clients a competitive advantage throughout the application process.
Our personalized approach, commitment to document integrity, and ethical practices ensure that clients can navigate the entire process with confidence and discretion.
Official Sources
This article is based on official information from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Parliament of Canada. For complete details about Bill C-3 and Canadian citizenship by descent:
Bill C-3: An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025) comes into effect – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, December 15, 2025 (canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2025/12/bill-c-3-an-act-to-amend-the-citizenship-act-2025-comes-into-effect.html)
New citizenship rules for Canadians born or adopted abroad are now in effect – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, December 15, 2025 (canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2025/12/new-citizenship-rules-for-canadians-born-or-adopted-abroad-are-now-in-effect.html)
Canada reaches important milestone in restoring fairness and clarity to citizenship by descent – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, November 21, 2025 (canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2025/11/canada-reaches-important-milestone-in-restoring-fairness-and-clarity-to-citizenship-by-descent.html)
Bill C-3: An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025) – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, June 5, 2025 (canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2025/06/bill-c-3-an-act-to-amend-the-citizenship-act-2025.html)
Government Bill (House of Commons) C-3 (45-1) – Royal Assent – Parliament of Canada, November 20, 2025 (parl.ca/documentviewer/en/45-1/bill/C-3/royal-assent)
Frequently asked questions
What is Bill C-3 and when did it come into force?
Bill C-3 is a Canadian federal law that amends the Citizenship Act to reform the rules governing citizenship by descent. It received Royal Assent on November 20, 2025, and came into force on December 15, 2025, at which point Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada began applying the updated rules.
Who are 'Lost Canadians' and how does Bill C-3 help them?
'Lost Canadians' are individuals with genuine ties to Canada who were unable to inherit citizenship because of the previous first-generation limit, which restricted citizenship by descent to one generation born abroad. Bill C-3 acts as a retrospective remedy, meaning persons born before December 15, 2025 who would have qualified but for the first-generation limit or outdated provisions may now automatically become Canadian citizens.
Does Bill C-3 remove the first-generation limit on Canadian citizenship by descent?
Yes. Bill C-3 removes the rigid first-generation limit, allowing Canadians born abroad to pass citizenship to their own children born abroad, provided the parent can demonstrate a substantial connection to Canada for births or adoptions occurring on or after December 15, 2025.
What is the substantial connection requirement under Bill C-3?
The substantial connection requirement applies to children born or adopted abroad after December 15, 2025, to a Canadian parent who was also born or adopted abroad. To meet this standard, the Canadian parent must have accumulated at least 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada before the birth or adoption of their child.
Do first-generation Canadians born abroad need to prove a substantial connection to Canada?
No. Canadians who are first-generation born abroad — meaning a child born outside Canada to a Canadian-born or naturalized parent — remain automatic citizens and are not required to demonstrate any substantial connection to Canada.
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