As of December 15, 2025, Bill C-3, An Act to Amend the
Citizenship Act (2025), is officially in force. This
significantly changes Canadian citizenship law, specifically for
families with children born or adopted outside Canada, or families
impacted by the first-generation citizenship limit.
First-generation citizens are characterized as the first person
born or adopted outside Canada to a Canadian citizen parent or
parents, as described in detail below.
With the passing of Bill C-3, outdated and restrictive
provisions that limited Canadian citizenship by descent have been
struck, allowing citizenship to individuals who were previously
excluded under the first-generation limit and other historical
rules.
