Bill C-3 removes the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent
In force since December 15, 2025, Bill C-3 lets Canadians born abroad pass citizenship to children also born abroad, ending the first-generation limit.
Key points
✓Bill C-3 came into force December 15, 2025, removing the "first-generation limit" on citizenship by descent.
✓The change is retroactive and automatic — IRCC estimates 110,000+ people became citizens the moment it took effect.
✓For births abroad on or after Dec 15, 2025, the Canadian parent (also born abroad) must show a "substantial connection" — at least 1,095 days (3 years) of physical presence in Canada before the child's birth.
What this means for you
If you were born abroad to a Canadian parent who was also born abroad, you may already be a citizen without applying for anything — check the official eligibility rules for your specific birth dates and locations. If you are planning a birth abroad going forward, the 1,095-day presence requirement is the one to plan around.
Full detail
Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025), came into force on December 15, 2025. It removes the long-standing "first-generation limit" that barred Canadians born outside Canada from automatically passing citizenship to a child also born abroad.
The change is retroactive and automatic — IRCC estimates more than 110,000 people became citizens the moment it took effect. It followed a 2023 Ontario Superior Court ruling that found the first-generation limit unconstitutional.
One catch for the future: for anyone born abroad on or after December 15, 2025 to a Canadian parent who was also born abroad, that parent must show a "substantial connection" to Canada — defined as at least 1,095 days (three years) of physical presence in Canada before the child's birth.
If you think you may now be a citizen by descent, check the official eligibility rules — the details depend on when and where you and your parent were born.
General information, not legal or immigration advice. Immigration rules change often — confirm details on the official source above and, for your situation, consult a licensed RCIC or immigration lawyer.