In a press release, the Government of Canada said that it is “committed to making Canadian citizenship law fair, clear, and reflective of how Canadian families live today, both in and outside Canada.”
The new law also allows a Canadian parent born or adopted abroad to pass on citizenship to their child born or adopted outside Canada today or in the future. Those applying, however, are required to demonstrate at the time of application that they spent three years in Canada prior to their child’s birth or adoption.
“This approach supports fairness and clarity for Canadian families abroad while reinforcing the principle that real, demonstrated ties to Canada guide citizenship by descent,” the Canada Government release stated.
“These changes to our citizenship law reflect how Canadian families live today. Many Canadians choose to study abroad, travel to experience another culture, or relocate for family or personal reasons and still have a meaningful connection to our country. This new legislation strengthens the bond between Canadians at home and around the world, and reaffirms the values we hold as a nation,” the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
Background of Bill C-3
The Government of Canada introduced Bill C-3, An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act (2025), on June 5, 2025. The move was aimed towards extending citizenship by descent beyond the first generation. The bill received assent on November 20, 2025, and came into effect on December 15, 2025.
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As the new bill takes effect, IRCC began recognizing new eligible citizens and is applying the new rules for passing citizenship going forward.
How will things change now as Bill C-3 takes effect?
As the bill comes into effect
- People who automatically became Canadian citizens under the new law can apply to get proof of Canadian citizenship.
- People adopted abroad before December 15, 2025, by a Canadian parent born or adopted abroad can apply for Canadian citizenship for an adopted child.
- People born or adopted abroad on or after December 15, 2025, to a Canadian parent also born or adopted abroad must demonstrate that their Canadian parent has spent three years in Canada when applying for proof of Canadian citizenship or applying for Canadian citizenship for an adopted child.
- People born before December 15, 2025, who automatically became Canadian citizens under the new law and were not previously granted citizenship, and who now want to give up (renounce) Canadian citizenship can apply through a simplified renunciation process.
How can applicant show substantial connection?
To demonstrate a substantial connection to Canada, the applicant must show that their Canadian parent born or adopted abroad has at least 1,095 days (three years) of cumulative physical presence in Canada before the applicant’s birth or adoption, according to the government release.
How were things before Bill C-3?
Before Bill C-3 came into effect, Canada’s Citizenship Act limited the passing on of citizenship to the first generation for people born or adopted abroad. This meant that a Canadian citizen could only pass on citizenship to or access a direct grant of citizenship for a child born or adopted outside Canada if the parent was either born or naturalized in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption.
