What It Means Now That Canadian Citizenship Bill C-3 Is In Effect
Canada’s long-promised fix to citizenship by descent is now real. As of December 15, 2025, Bill C-3 is in force, ending the first-generation limit that blocked thousands of people from Canadian citizenship. The change matters less for what politicians say it symbolises and more for what applicants can actually do right now.
This law does two things. It retroactively recognises many people as Canadian citizens who were previously excluded. It also sets a clear rule for future generations born or adopted abroad.
On this page you will find
- What Bill C-3 changes now that it is in force
- Who is automatically recognised as Canadian
- New rules for children born or adopted abroad after December 15, 2025
- How IRCC is handling existing applications
- What this means for Lost Canadians and their descendants
What changed on December 15, 2025
Before Bill C-3, Canadian citizenship by descent usually stopped after one generation born abroad. If your Canadian parent was also born outside Canada, you were often out of luck.
That rule is now gone for people born or adopted before December 15, 2025. If you would have been Canadian but for the first-generation limit or similar outdated provisions, you are now considered a citizen and can apply for proof of citizenship.
Who is automatically covered now
Bill C-3 restores citizenship to several groups that immigration lawyers have dealt with for years:
- People born abroad in the second or later generation before December 15, 2025
- Descendants of so-called Lost Canadians who remained excluded after earlier fixes
- People adopted abroad before December 15, 2025, by Canadian parents also born or adopted abroad
If you fall into one of these groups, you do not need a new law or policy. You can apply now for a citizenship certificate under the amended Act.
The new rule going forward
For children born or adopted abroad on or after December 15, 2025, citizenship is no longer automatic across unlimited generations.
A Canadian parent who was born or adopted abroad must prove a real connection to Canada. That means showing at least 1,095 days – three years – of physical presence in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption.
This is the government’s compromise between fixing an unconstitutional law and keeping limits on citizenship by descent.
What happens to applications already in progress
IRCC has confirmed that people affected by the old first-generation limit do not need to reapply. Applications submitted under interim measures will now be processed under the new law.
In practical terms, this should reduce refusals based solely on where a Canadian parent was born, although processing times may still be slow.
Why this matters beyond the headlines
This change closes a legal problem the federal government chose not to fight after losing in court in 2023. It also ends years of uncertainty for families who had strong Canadian ties but no legal status to show for it.
At the same time, Bill C-3 draws a firm line for the future. Citizenship can pass on beyond one generation, but only where Canada is more than an abstract idea.
FAQ
Who became Canadian automatically under Bill C-3?
People born or adopted abroad before December 15, 2025, who were excluded only because of the first-generation limit or similar rules are now considered Canadian citizens. They still need to apply for proof of citizenship, but they no longer need a discretionary grant or special approval.
Do I need to submit a new application if I applied before?
No. IRCC has said it will process existing applications using the new law. If you applied under interim measures after the 2023 court ruling, your file should now be assessed under Bill C-3 without resubmission.
What is the three-year Canada connection rule?
For children born or adopted abroad on or after December 15, 2025, a Canadian parent born or adopted abroad must show at least 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption. This proof is required at the application stage.
Does Bill C-3 cover adopted children?
Yes. The law applies to both birth and adoption. Children adopted abroad before December 15, 2025, may now qualify retroactively. Adoptions after that date require the same three-year Canadian presence from the Canadian parent born or adopted abroad.
Does this completely remove limits on citizenship by descent?
No. Bill C-3 removes the old first-generation limit for people born before December 15, 2025, but it sets a new framework for the future. Citizenship can pass on beyond one generation, but only when the Canadian parent shows a substantial connection to Canada.
