Under the new 2025 Bill C-3 rules, hundreds of thousands of people with a Canadian ancestor now qualify for Canadian citizenship by descent — even if they never lived in Canada. Find out in minutes whether you are entitled to apply.
QUICK CHECK
Bill C-3 expanded eligibility in 2025. Here is the short answer for the three most common situations. A full legal review is the only way to confirm your case — but this gives you a strong starting point.
In most cases, you are already a Canadian citizen by descent — you simply need to apply for the Proof of Canadian Citizenship certificate that confirms it.
Note: if the child was born on or after December 15, 2025, and the Canadian parent was also born outside Canada, the substantial connection rule may apply.
Before Bill C-3, you were blocked by the first-generation limit. As of 2026, that restriction has been removed for many second-generation cases.
You likely qualify, but the file requires careful legal analysis of birth dates and the line of descent. This is where most claims need professional preparation.
Bill C-3 was designed in part for "Lost Canadians" — people who were excluded under prior versions of the law. Whether you qualify depends on the specific provision your case falls under.
A free review is the right next step. Many people in this situation discover they have been entitled to citizenship for years without knowing it.
Bill C-3 is the 2026 update to Canadian citizenship law. For decades, Canada applied a "first-generation limit" that prevented Canadian citizens born abroad from passing citizenship to their own children born abroad. Whole branches of Canadian families lost their citizenship rights as a result — the so-called "Lost Canadians."
Bill C-3 removes that restriction for many cases. If you have a Canadian ancestor, you may now qualify for Canadian citizenship by descent — even if you have never lived in Canada and were previously told you did not qualify.
One nuance: children born or adopted abroad on or after December 15, 2025, to a Canadian parent who was also born abroad must meet a substantial connection requirement — the Canadian parent must have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) before the child's birth or adoption.
The rules are technical and the documentation is precise. A careful review of your family's dates and records is what determines whether you qualify and how to prove it.
HOW IT WORKS
We review your family history — dates of birth, the line of descent, and any past citizenship determinations — and confirm under which provision of Bill C-3 you qualify. We tell you yes, no, or what is needed to know for sure.
If you qualify, our lawyers prepare your full Proof of Canadian Citizenship application. We identify which documents IRCC requires for your specific case, advise on alternatives when records are missing, and assemble a clean file.
We submit your application to IRCC and follow up on your behalf until a decision is rendered. Once approved, you receive your Proof of Canadian Citizenship certificate — and can apply for your Canadian passport.
With over 23 years of experience, Canadim is one of Canada's leading immigration law firms. Our team has guided thousands of individuals through Canadian citizenship applications, and we have been advising clients on Bill C-3 cases since the law was first introduced.
Citizenship by descent under the new rules is not always straightforward. Generational lines, the December 15, 2025 cut-off date, the substantial connection requirement, missing records from decades ago — each adds complexity. We handle that complexity so you submit a file that is correct on the first attempt and that IRCC can process without delay.
"Canadim is a great law firm consisting of an organized, helpful and professional team. They take their time to check all details of your case with you and will give you the best options to achieve your objectives. You will have constant communications with them, while reviewing your documents, which helps creating a flawless application. I had the opportunity to work with Jasmine, a very nice and professional member of the team, who was always available to answer my questions during the process. I would recommend this firm to anyone, without a doubt. I would like to thank Canadim, and specifically Jasmine, for all their support."
"First of all, I want to thank Canadim for all the help you have done to me. All their staff are very accommodating and approachable. They are patient and always answer all my questions and guided me step by step whenever I have problems or don't know what to do. They are always there to help throughout the processing. Thank you all for your tremendous help. I'm so grateful and thankful! I highly recommend Canadim. You're the best! God bless you always and may you continue helping people."
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
In many cases, yes. Bill C-3 expanded Canadian citizenship by descent to include grandchildren of Canadian citizens — a path that was blocked under the previous first-generation limit. Whether your specific case qualifies depends on dates of birth and the line of descent, which is exactly what a free eligibility review confirms.
Most likely, yes. If one of your parents was a Canadian citizen when you were born, you are generally a Canadian citizen by descent automatically — you just need to apply for the Proof of Canadian Citizenship certificate that formally confirms it. The certificate is what allows you to obtain a Canadian passport.
Yes. Canada permits dual citizenship, and the United States does not require you to renounce US citizenship when acquiring another nationality. US citizens commonly hold both passports. Tax obligations are based on residency, not citizenship — being recognized as a Canadian citizen does not by itself create Canadian tax liability if you live in the US.
No. Most applicants live outside Canada — in the US, the UK, Australia, or elsewhere — and there is no residency requirement to apply for proof of citizenship by descent. The substantial connection rule that some people have heard about applies only to children born on or after December 15, 2025, and concerns the Canadian parent's residence, not the applicant's.
It is a new requirement that only applies in one specific situation: a child born or adopted abroad on or after December 15, 2025, whose Canadian parent was also born or adopted abroad. In that case, the Canadian parent must have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) before the child's birth or adoption. It does not apply to most existing adult applicants or to children born before that date.
No. You can apply for Proof of Canadian Citizenship at any age. Many of our clients are adults — some in their 60s or 70s — who only recently discovered they were entitled to Canadian citizenship through a parent or grandparent.
This is common — especially for great grandparent-based claims where the records may be decades old. Alternative documents are frequently accepted by IRCC, and historical records can sometimes be requested from Canadian authorities. Missing one document rarely makes you ineligible. As part of our service, we advise on which substitutes work for your specific case.
"Lost Canadians" is the informal name for people who were excluded from Canadian citizenship by prior versions of the law — often because their parent or grandparent lost or never received citizenship due to outdated rules. Bill C-3 was designed in part to address these cases. If your family has a story of "we used to be Canadian but lost it somehow," a free review is worth doing.
IRCC processing for Proof of Canadian Citizenship typically runs 11 to 15 months, depending on case complexity. File preparation on our side is generally faster, with most cases ready to submit within a few weeks once we have the supporting documents. Cases involving grandparents or missing records can take longer due to the additional evidence needed.
The new Bill C-3 rules opened the door for hundreds of thousands of people. The only way to know for sure if you qualify is a proper review of your family history.
Get a free confidential assessment from our immigration lawyers — same business day response.