Bill C-3 (2025) is an Act to amend the Citizenship Act of Canada, which received Royal Assent on November 20, 2025 and came into force on December 15, 2025.
This legislation reshapes Canada’s rules on citizenship by descent—especially for Canadian families living and having children outside Canada.
Why Bill C-3 was introduced
The change follows a court decision: on December 19, 2023, the Ontario Superior Court found portions of the Citizenship Act’s First-Generation Limit (FGL) unconstitutional. The federal government did not appeal and moved to amend the law.
The Core Policy Problem: under the old First Generation Limit, a Canadian citizen born or adopted abroad often could not pass citizenship to a child also born or adopted abroad, even if the family’s ties to Canada were real and ongoing.
Key changes under Canada’s Bill C-3, with examples
1) Automatic citizenship for many people previously blocked by the first-generation limit
Bill C-3 “automatically remedies” the status of people who would be citizens today if it were not for the First Generation Limit and certain outdated provisions. It allows affected individuals to apply for proof of citizenship i.e. a citizenship certificate. A Citizenship Certificate is a critical document that proves Canadian Citizenship and allows holders to apply for government services, passports etc.
Example:
A person born abroad in 2010 to a Canadian parent who was also born abroad (a “second generation born abroad” scenario) may have been excluded under the First Generation Limit. If Bill C-3 now recognizes them as a citizen, they can apply for proof of Canadian citizenship to document that status.
Practical point: “Automatically a citizen” does not mean you have paperwork. You typically still need a citizenship certificate for passports, schooling, or government services.
2) A new “substantial connection” rule going forward: 3 years of physical presence in Canada
For children born or adopted abroad on or after December 15, 2025, where the Canadian parent was also born or adopted abroad, the parent can pass on citizenship only if they can prove a substantial connection—defined as 1,095 days (three years) of cumulative physical presence in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption.
Example:
A Canadian citizen who was born abroad but lived in Canada from ages 10–18 (well over three years total) later has a child abroad in 2026. Under Bill C-3, that parent can pass citizenship—provided they document the required time in Canada when applying for the child’s proof of citizenship.
Counter-example:
If the parent was born abroad and only visited Canada for short vacations totaling a few months, the three-year threshold may not be met, and citizenship by descent may not be available under the new framework for a child born abroad after December 15, 2025.
3) Expanded pathways for internationally adopted children – with key timing differences
Bill C-3 clarifies that:
For adoptions abroad before December 15, 2025, a Canadian parent born/adopted abroad can apply for Canadian Citizenship for an adopted child.
For births/adoptions abroad on or after December 15, 2025, the three-year physical presence test can apply when the Canadian parent was also born/adopted abroad.
Example:
A Canadian Citizen born abroad adopts a child overseas in 2024. Under the new law, they may now have a clearer route to apply for the adopted child’s citizenship.
4) “Lost Canadians” and descendants: more people brought back into citizenship
The government states Bill C-3 extends access to remaining “Lost Canadians” and their descendants—people who lost or never obtained citizenship under older rules not fully fixed by reforms in 2009 and 2015.
Example:
Someone whose parent lost citizenship due to historical “retention” requirements – often referenced as Section 8 issues– may have been stuck in a multi-generational gap. Bill C-3 is intended to close that gap for additional categories and descendants.
Tips and advice for people potentially affected by Canada’s Bill C-3
- Identify your scenario and the key date (December 15, 2025).
- Whether you were born/adopted abroad before or after that date can change which rule applies.
- Apply for proof of citizenship early if you may now be recognized as a citizen.
- IRCC notes newly eligible citizens can apply for proof of citizenship.
- If you need to meet the “three-year presence” test, build a strong evidence package.
- The IRCC’s eligibility threshold for residence in Canada is 1,095 days cumulative.
- Don’t assume a passport will be straightforward without a citizenship certificate.
- In many real-world situations the citizenship certificate is the foundational document.
- If you may have become a citizen automatically but do not want it, review renunciation options.
- IRCC indicates a simplified renunciation process for people who want to renounce.
