Canada has now put into force one of the most significant citizenship reforms in recent years. Bill C-3, An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act (2025), is officially in effect as of December 15, 2025. From this date, people born before December 15, 2025 who would have been citizens but for the first-generation limit or other outdated rules are now considered Canadian and can apply for proof of citizenship. At the same time, clear new rules now govern how citizenship can be passed on to children born or adopted abroad in the future.
Who is now a Canadian under the new law
Bill C-3 addresses long standing gaps affecting people often referred to as Lost Canadians, as well as their descendants. Historically, several sets of rules created confusion and exclusion:
- The first Canadian Citizenship Act of 1947 contained provisions that caused some people to lose citizenship or never acquire it.
- Legislative changes in 2009 and 2015 corrected many of these cases and led about 20,000 individuals to come forward and seek proof of Canadian citizenship.
- In 2009, a separate rule known as the first-generation limit was added, preventing some children born or adopted abroad from being citizens if their Canadian parent was also born or adopted outside Canada.
Despite earlier fixes, some people remained outside the system, including section 8 Lost Canadians and their descendants. On December 19, 2023, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled that key parts of the Citizenship Act dealing with the first-generation limit were unconstitutional. The federal government chose not to appeal, accepting that the old rules produced unacceptable outcomes for children of Canadians born abroad.
In response, the government introduced Bill C-3 on June 5, 2025, it received Royal Assent on November 20, 2025, and it came into force on December 15, 2025. From this effective date, the following groups are now recognized or supported under the amended law:
- People who automatically became Canadian citizens under the new rules can now apply for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship).
- People adopted abroad before December 15, 2025 by a Canadian parent who was themselves born or adopted abroad can apply for Canadian citizenship for that adopted child.
- People born before December 15, 2025, who automatically became citizens under Bill C-3, but who prefer not to hold Canadian citizenship, can use a simplified renunciation process.
For those who previously applied under the interim measure created after the 2023 court decision, there is no need to reapply. IRCC will process those applications using the new rules. In practice, this is expected to significantly reduce delays and duplication for families that have already been waiting for clarity.
This set of changes effectively extends access to citizenship beyond the first generation in a controlled, principled way, while still protecting the value of Canadian citizenship.
New rules for passing citizenship to children born or adopted abroad
Bill C-3 does more than correct the past. It also creates a predictable path for future generations of Canadians living outside the country. A Canadian parent who was born or adopted abroad may now pass citizenship to a child born or adopted outside Canada, today or in the future, as long as the parent can show a real connection to Canada.
Under the new rules, a Canadian citizen born or adopted abroad can pass on citizenship by descent if, at the time of application for proof of citizenship or for a grant of citizenship for an adopted child, they can demonstrate at least three years of physical presence in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption.
IRCC defines this as a substantial connection to Canada. In practical terms, the standard is:
- At least 1,095 days of cumulative physical presence in Canada
- The days must be accumulated before the child’s birth or adoption
- Presence can be accumulated over multiple periods, as long as the total reaches 1,095 days
Going forward, people born or adopted abroad on or after December 15, 2025 to a Canadian parent who was also born or adopted abroad must show that the parent meets this three year presence requirement when they:
- Apply for proof of Canadian citizenship for a biological child born abroad, or
- Apply for Canadian citizenship for an adopted child who was adopted abroad
From an immigration consulting perspective, this approach strikes a deliberate balance. It acknowledges the global mobility of modern Canadian families, while reinforcing the principle that citizenship by descent should be grounded in genuine, demonstrated ties to Canada rather than purely symbolic links.
Impact on Lost Canadians and families abroad
Bill C-3 is particularly significant for people still excluded after earlier reforms. It now extends citizenship to:
- Remaining Lost Canadians who were previously left out of the 2009 and 2015 fixes
- Their descendants, who may have been unable to claim citizenship because of historic gaps
- People born abroad to, or adopted abroad by, a Canadian parent in the second or later generation before the new law came into effect, if they were blocked solely because of the first-generation limit or older provisions
For many families, this reform confirms their place within the Canadian national community after years, and in some cases decades, of legal uncertainty. Public comments from government leadership emphasize that the new law is meant to reflect the way Canadians actually live today: studying overseas, working internationally, relocating for family reasons, yet maintaining meaningful ties back to Canada. Advocates for Lost Canadians have also publicly described this change as a long overdue correction that makes access to citizenship more fair and reasonable.
At the same time, the government has been clear that protecting the value of citizenship remains a priority. By anchoring the new pathway in a measurable 1,095 day physical presence requirement, Bill C-3 sends a strong signal that citizenship is tied to real connection, not just ancestry. For children born or adopted abroad in the future, families will need careful planning and documentation to demonstrate that the Canadian parent meets the three year standard.
Overall, the amendments are expected to reduce litigation, clarify outcomes, and provide a more transparent framework for Canadians who build their lives across borders. For some, this will open the door to passports, mobility, and full recognition as Canadians; for others, it will require a careful review of their history in Canada to determine whether they can meet the substantial connection test.
Many families will now be asking whether they or their children have automatically become citizens, whether they should apply for proof of citizenship, or how to demonstrate the required 1,095 days of presence. In many cases, this will involve reconstructing years of residence, travel, and employment records, which can be complex and time sensitive.
When people face uncertainty about their status, the risk of delays, refusals, or incomplete filings increases. A professional immigration consultant can help interpret how Bill C-3 applies to a specific family situation, identify who is now a citizen, and structure applications in a way that clearly demonstrates eligibility. Our services include preparing, advising and representation the immigration applications from immigration consultant.
