New Bill Could Bring Back Citizenship For Lost Canadians

A new bill could help thousands of people born outside Canada gain citizenship. This bill, called Bill C-3, aims to fix rules about citizenship by descent that many find unfair.

What Is Citizenship by Descent?

Citizenship by descent means a child automatically becomes Canadian if their parent is a Canadian citizen—even if the child is born outside Canada.

But since 2009, Canada limits this. The rule, called the first-generation limit (FGL), stops children born abroad to Canadian citizens by descent from getting citizenship.

This means if your parent was born outside Canada but is Canadian by descent, you might not get citizenship automatically.

Why Change the Law?

In December 2023, a court in Ontario said this rule is unfair. It said the FGL creates a "second class" of citizens and limits their rights to move freely. The court gave the government six months to fix the law.

The government tried to make changes in May 2024 with Bill C-71. This bill would allow citizenship if parents showed a "substantial connection" to Canada. But the bill did not pass because Parliament paused in March 2025.

The court then extended the deadline to November 20, 2025, for the government to fix the law.

Interim Solution

In March 2025, the government introduced a temporary plan. People affected by the FGL can apply for citizenship if their parent spent at least three years in Canada before their birth or adoption.

This connection rule aims to make sure the family has strong ties to Canada.

What Bill C-3 Proposes

Introduced on June 5, 2025, Bill C-3 would:

• Grant citizenship to those affected by the FGL.
  
• Allow Canadian citizens by descent to pass citizenship to their children, if they show a strong connection to Canada.
  

The bill now needs to go through the approval process in Parliament and get royal assent before it becomes law.

If the government misses the November deadline, the court may cancel the problematic parts of the law.

Who Benefits?

Children born in Canada are already citizens at birth, except for some cases like children of diplomats.

Second-generation Canadians abroad who meet the three-year connection rule can already apply for citizenship under the temporary plan.

What Comes Next?

Bill C-3 aims to fix an important issue in Canadian citizenship law. It could help many people born outside Canada feel fully Canadian again.

This change shows the government’s commitment to fairness and recognizing family ties to Canada.