Key Takeaways
- Bill C-3, which came into force on December 15, 2025, has made thousands of "lost Canadians" eligible for citizenship
- The new legislation removes the first-generation limit (FGL) for citizenship by descent, allowing children of Canadian citizens by descent to gain citizenship
- A "substantial connection to Canada" test is introduced for children born on or after December 15, 2025, requiring the Canadian parent to have spent at least 1,095 days in Canada prior to the birth or adoption of the child
- Eligible individuals can apply for proof of citizenship online and subsequently apply for a Canadian passport
- Canadian citizens have the right to enter and reside in Canada, vote in elections, and run for public office
Introduction to Bill C-3 and Citizenship Changes
The coming into force of Bill C-3 on December 15, 2025, has marked a significant change in Canada’s citizenship laws. The new legislation has made thousands of "lost Canadians" eligible for citizenship, despite the federal government’s decision to take down its "Am I a Canadian?" web tool. To help individuals assess their eligibility for citizenship by descent, CanadaVisa has released an online tool that provides an indication of whether a person qualifies for Canadian citizenship under the new legislation.
Understanding Citizenship by Descent
Citizenship by descent is a provision that confers citizenship to children born outside Canada to Canadian parents. In contrast to birthright citizenship, which applies to children born within Canada, citizenship by descent has undergone significant changes with the introduction of Bill C-3. Prior to December 15, 2025, the Citizenship Act limited citizenship by descent to the first generation, meaning that children could only gain citizenship by descent if born to a Canadian parent with birthright citizenship or to a Canadian citizen by naturalization. This provision, known as the first-generation limit (FGL), resulted in many individuals being described as "lost Canadians" due to their inability to inherit Canadian citizenship.
Impact of Bill C-3 on Citizenship by Descent
The introduction of Bill C-3 has removed the FGL, allowing children of Canadian citizens by descent to gain citizenship by descent. For children born prior to December 15, 2025, the new legislation has conferred citizenship to all "lost Canadians" who were formerly affected by the FGL. For children born on or after December 15, 2025, the legislation introduces a "substantial connection to Canada" test, which requires the Canadian parent to have spent at least 1,095 days in Canada prior to the birth or adoption of the child. This test aims to ensure that Canadian citizens by descent have a strong connection to the country.
Applying for Proof of Citizenship
Individuals who believe they are eligible for Canadian citizenship can apply for proof of citizenship online. The application process requires the submission of documentation proving eligibility, as well as a $75 application fee. As of the time of writing, the processing time for proof of citizenship applications is nine months. Once proof of citizenship is obtained, individuals can apply for a Canadian passport, which grants them the right to enter and reside in Canada, vote in elections, and run for public office.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The introduction of Bill C-3 has marked a significant change in Canada’s citizenship laws, providing an opportunity for thousands of "lost Canadians" to gain citizenship. Eligible individuals can use the CanadaVisa online tool to assess their eligibility and apply for proof of citizenship. With the removal of the FGL and the introduction of the "substantial connection to Canada" test, the new legislation aims to ensure that Canadian citizens by descent have a strong connection to the country. As the processing time for proof of citizenship applications is currently nine months, individuals are advised to apply as soon as possible to take advantage of their new eligibility for Canadian citizenship.