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ARTICLE · 30 JULY 2026

Canadian Citizenship By Descent Landscape In 2026: Extended Processing Times, New Documentation Requirements, And What Applicants Should Know

Harvey Law Group
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Bill C-3 came into force in December 15, 2025 and Canadian citizenship by descent has since expanded beyond the former first-generation limit. Whilst this expanded framework has created significant new opportunities for thousands of individuals who may have Canadian lineage, born or adopted outside of Canada, recent developments have also demonstrated that obtaining Canadian citizenship by ancestry is no longer simply a matter of proving a distant family connection.

CanadaImmigration
Polly Ho
Polly Ho
Tiffany Ng
Tiffany Ng
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Bill C-3 came into force in December 15, 2025 and Canadian citizenship by descent has since expanded beyond the former first-generation limit. Whilst this expanded framework has created significant new opportunities for thousands of individuals who may have Canadian lineage, born or adopted outside of Canada, recent developments have also demonstrated that obtaining Canadian citizenship by ancestry is no longer simply a matter of proving a distant family connection.

In recent months, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (“IRCC”) has introduced important changes to the documentary requirements for proof of citizenship applications, suspended and reissued dozens of citizenship certificates that were already issued under the new legislation and revised its guidance regarding acceptable documentary proof.

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