Canada is on track to make a landmark change to its citizenship laws with the introduction of Bill C-3, which will allow more Canadians to pass on their citizenship to children born abroad. The move is expected to impact thousands of families and restore rights to individuals previously excluded under the country’s existing rules.
What Is Changing?
Since 2009, Canada has limited citizenship by descent to only the first generation born abroad, meaning Canadian citizens born outside the country could not automatically pass on citizenship to their children if those children were also born abroad.
Bill C-3 aims to remove this “first-generation limit.” If passed, the bill will:
- Restore citizenship to people who lost or were denied it due to the first-generation limit or older laws.
- Allow citizenship by descent beyond the first generation, as long as the Canadian parent spent at least 1,095 days (about three years) in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption.
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Why Is This Change Happening?
The proposed change follows a December 2023 ruling by the Ontario Superior Court, which found the first-generation limit unconstitutional. The court ruled that the law discriminated against children born abroad to Canadian parents. In response, the federal government opted not to appeal the decision and instead chose to update the law to reflect the ruling.
Who Will Benefit?
If passed, Bill C-3 could benefit a wide range of individuals and families, including:
- Children born abroad to Canadian parents who were also born outside Canada
- Children adopted abroad by Canadian parents
- Individuals who lost citizenship at age 28 under older rules
- “Lost Canadians” affected by outdated or discriminatory citizenship laws
Earlier reforms in 2009 and 2015 restored citizenship to nearly 20,000 individuals. Bill C-3 is expected to benefit many more.
What’s Next?
Bill C-3 must still be passed by Parliament and receive Royal Assent before it becomes law. Once enacted, the government will issue clear guidelines regarding eligibility and the application process through the official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
This development marks a major step forward in modernizing Canada’s citizenship laws and ensuring equal treatment for families with strong Canadian ties, no matter where their children are born. Keep visiting Bloom Pakistan
