Bill C-3 Explained: New Canadian Citizenship by Descent Rules (2025)

Bill C-3 is one of the most significant changes to Canadian citizenship law in decades. If you were born abroad to Canadian parents — or if your parents or grandparents were Canadian — you may now be eligible for citizenship. Here is everything you need to know. CitizenPass makes mastering this easy — read on, then start practicing for free.

Before Bill C-3, Canadian citizenship law imposed a "first-generation limit" on citizenship by descent. This meant:

• If you were born in Canada, you were automatically a citizen
• If you were born abroad to a Canadian parent who was ALSO born in Canada, you were a citizen by descent
• But if you were born abroad to a Canadian parent who was THEMSELVES born abroad — you were NOT a citizen

This first-generation limit affected millions of people worldwide, particularly:

• Children of Canadian military personnel stationed abroad
• Children of Canadian diplomats posted overseas
• Children of Canadians who emigrated and started families abroad
• The "Lost Canadians" — people who should have been citizens but were excluded by technicalities

Bill C-3, which received Royal Assent and came into force on December 15, 2025, made these key changes:

1. Removed the First-Generation Limit

Canadian citizenship can now be passed down through multiple generations born abroad. There is no longer a cutoff after the first generation born outside Canada.

2. Introduced the 1,095-Day Physical Presence Rule

For children born after December 15, 2025, the Canadian parent must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days (approximately 3 years) at any point before the child's birth.

3. Retroactive Recognition

People born before December 15, 2025 who were previously denied citizenship due to the first-generation limit are now automatically recognized as Canadian citizens.

If you were born before December 15, 2025, you may now be a Canadian citizen if:

• You were born outside Canada
• At least one parent was a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth
• You were previously denied citizenship only because of the first-generation limit

You do not need to apply for citizenship — you are already a citizen. However, you will need to apply for a citizenship certificate to prove your status.

For children born after the law came into force, an additional requirement applies:

• The Canadian parent must have spent at least 1,095 days physically present in Canada at any point in their life before the child's birth
• These days do not need to be consecutive
• Days as a child, student, worker, or resident all count
• The parent does not need to be currently living in Canada

This rule ensures a meaningful connection to Canada across generations.

Bill C-3 does not grant citizenship in these situations:

• The Canadian parent renounced their citizenship before the child's birth
• The Canadian parent obtained citizenship through fraud
• The child was born to a Canadian who never had 1,095 days in Canada (for post-Dec 2025 births)
• The person is specifically excluded under other provisions of the Citizenship Act

To prove citizenship by descent under Bill C-3, you will typically need:

• Birth certificate of the applicant (showing parents' names)
• Proof of the Canadian parent's citizenship (citizenship certificate, Canadian passport, or birth certificate)
• Proof of the Canadian parent's physical presence in Canada (if applicable)
• Identity documents for the applicant
• Completed citizenship certificate application form

1. Download the application form from the IRCC website (Application for a Citizenship Certificate — CIT 0001)
2. Gather all required documents (originals and certified copies)
3. Pay the application fee ($75 CAD for adults, $75 CAD for minors)
4. Submit your application online through the IRCC portal or by mail
5. Wait for processing — current processing times are approximately 5-12 months

Bill C-3 resolves many (but not all) cases of so-called "Lost Canadians" — people who had a legitimate claim to Canadian citizenship but were excluded by various legislative quirks over the decades.

Previous legislative attempts (including changes in 2009 and 2015) addressed some Lost Canadian cases, but the first-generation limit continued to affect many families. Bill C-3 is the most comprehensive fix to date.

Bill C-3 deals with citizenship by descent — acquiring citizenship through your parents. This is completely separate from the citizenship knowledge test that applies to people becoming citizens through naturalization (the PR-to-citizen path).

If you qualify under Bill C-3, you do not need to:

• Take the citizenship knowledge test
• Meet the physical presence requirement (as an applicant)
• Meet the language requirement
• Attend a citizenship ceremony

However, if you are becoming a citizen through naturalization (you are a permanent resident applying for citizenship), then you will need to take the citizenship test.

If you are becoming a Canadian citizen through naturalization and need to take the knowledge test, CitizenPass has everything you need:

• 600+ Practice Questions — Same format as the real IRCC test, with detailed explanations for every answer
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Your Canadian dream is one test away. Join thousands of successful new Canadians — start your free CitizenPass preparation today.