On December 15, 2025, Bill C-3 came into effect, amending Canada's Citizenship Act to allow citizenship to be passed beyond the first generation for children born or adopted abroad. Previously, only children of Canadian citizens who were born or naturalized in Canada could automatically receive citizenship. The new law requires children born or adopted abroad on or after this date to have a Canadian parent who has spent at least three years (1,095 days) physically in Canada to qualify.
This change follows a 2023 court ruling that deemed the original first-generation limit unconstitutional. IRCC now accepts applications from those who automatically gained citizenship under the new rules, including proof of citizenship requests and citizenship applications for adopted children born abroad. Additionally, individuals affected by older citizenship restrictions, known as "Lost Canadians," and their descendants may now apply under the updated provisions.
For applicants born abroad after December 15, 2025, demonstrating a substantial connection through the Canadian parent's residency in Canada is mandatory. The government also introduced a simplified process for those wishing to renounce citizenship granted under the new law. More details are available on IRCC’s official website.