Canada’s New Law To Grant Citizenship To Thousands Born Abroad

Last Updated On 15 November 2025, 8:13 AM EST (Toronto Time)

Canada is on the verge of a landmark citizenship reform that will restore and expand citizenship rights to thousands of people born outside the country.

The new bill C-3, which passed the House of Commons on November 5, 2025, has already completed second reading in the Senate on November 6 and will be under committee consideration on November 17, 2025.

Once enacted, this transformative legislation will extend citizenship by descent to generations of Canadians born abroad who were previously excluded under outdated rules.

It will also make citizenship more accessible for internationally adopted children and those connected to Canada through strong family and residential ties.

After Senate review and Royal Assent, the law will officially take effect on a date fixed by order of the Governor in Council, ushering in one of the most significant updates to the Citizenship Act in decades.

What the Canada’s New Citizenship Law Changes

The legislation introduces sweeping amendments designed to modernize and humanize Canada’s citizenship framework. Key reforms include:

Restoring citizenship by descent to all individuals born outside Canada before the new law comes into force, provided they had at least one Canadian citizen parent.
Granting citizenship by descent to future generations, meaning children born abroad after the law takes effect will also qualify — if their Canadian parent had a “substantial connection” to Canada, defined as at least 1,095 days (three years) of physical presence in the country before the child’s birth.
Granting citizenship to internationally adopted children, whether adopted before or after the new law, as long as the adoptive parent is a Canadian citizen who meets the same substantial-connection requirement.
Restoring citizenship to individuals who lost it for failing to apply for retention under previous laws or whose applications were denied under the former section 8 of the Citizenship Act.
Introducing a simplified renunciation process for individuals who automatically become citizens as a result of this new law but wish to opt out.
The law will come into effect upon a future date fixed by the Governor in Council, ensuring time for administrative preparation and public awareness.

Why This Law Matters

This reform addresses long-standing inequities created by the former “first-generation limit,” which barred Canadians born abroad from passing citizenship to their children also born outside the country.

The rule divided families, excluded many from claiming citizenship by descent, and was widely criticized for creating a two-tier system among Canadians.

By removing this limitation, Canada acknowledges the reality of modern global families — citizens who study, work, or live abroad but remain deeply connected to their country.

The new law will ensure that Canadian citizenship reflects genuine ties, not geography.

Who Will Benefit From this Canadian Citizenship Law Change?

The new law will benefit a wide range of people, including:

Second- and third-generation Canadians born abroad who were previously ineligible due to the first-generation rule.
Children adopted internationally by Canadian citizens, simplifying their path to citizenship.
Lost Canadians, those who lost their citizenship through outdated retention requirements or legal technicalities.
Families of Canadian expatriates, reconnecting them to their roots and granting them full citizenship rights.

For many, this reform represents the end of decades of exclusion and confusion surrounding inherited citizenship.

It also reaffirms Canada’s global identity as an inclusive, multicultural nation that values all of its citizens equally.

When Will It Come Into Effect?

While the bill has passed all stages in the House of Commons, it is still under Senate review.

After completing the second reading on November 6, 2025, the bill will be examined in detail by the Senate Committee on November 17, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. ET.

The meeting will feature key witnesses, including:

The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Officials from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Don Chapman, founder of the “Lost Canadians” movement
Andrew Griffith, former Director General at IRCC
Bruce Allen, lawyer, Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association
Several adoption advocates and legal experts

Once the committee concludes its review, the bill will move to the Report Stage and Third Reading in the Senate.

Following Senate approval, it will receive Royal Assent, the final step before becoming law.

According to the bill’s text, “This Act comes into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.”

This means the government will officially determine the start date after Royal Assent, likely in early 2026.

Once that date is announced, IRCC will publish detailed application instructions for newly eligible individuals seeking to confirm or obtain citizenship.

Understanding the “Substantial Connection” Requirement

A key feature of the new law is the introduction of a substantial connection requirement for parents born abroad who wish to pass citizenship to their children also born outside Canada.

To qualify, the Canadian parent must have spent at least 1,095 days (three years) physically present in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption.

This ensures that citizenship continues to reflect meaningful ties to Canada while allowing global families greater flexibility.

What This Means for Adopted Children

Under previous rules, adoption cases often involved lengthy and complex citizenship processes.

The new law simplifies this by granting citizenship to children adopted outside Canada, both before and after the law’s implementation, if their adoptive parent is a Canadian citizen with a substantial connection to the country.

This change ensures adopted children have the same citizenship rights as biological children born to Canadians abroad.

How Families Can Prepare

Although the law is not yet in force, affected families can start preparing by:

Gathering proof of Canadian citizenship for the parent or adoptive parent.
Collecting evidence of physical presence in Canada — such as tax records, employment history, or education documents — covering at least 1,095 days.
Keeping copies of birth certificates, adoption papers, and official records.
Monitoring IRCC’s official announcements for the final implementation date and application process.

Being ready in advance will help ensure a smooth and timely application once the new citizenship provisions come into effect.

Canada’s new citizenship bill represents a long-awaited moment of justice for thousands of people born abroad.

By ending the restrictive first-generation limit and expanding citizenship to adopted and previously excluded individuals, it redefines what it means to be Canadian in an interconnected world.

Once enacted, this law will reunite families, correct historical exclusions, and affirm that Canadian citizenship is defined not by borders but by belonging, identity, and enduring connection.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When will the new Canadian citizenship law for “Lost Canadians” will take effect?

After Senate approval and Royal Assent, the law will come into force on a date set by the Governor in Council. This is expected in early 2026.

Who qualifies for citizenship under the Canada’s new law?

Anyone born outside Canada to a Canadian citizen parent — even beyond the first generation — as long as the parent had a substantial connection to Canada before the child’s birth.

What is the “substantial connection” test for Canadian citizenship?

It requires at least 1,095 cumulative days of physical presence in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption.

Does this apply to adopted children?

Yes. Adopted children born abroad to Canadian parents with substantial ties to Canada will automatically qualify for citizenship.

Will children born before the law comes into effect qualify for citizenship?

Yes. Those born outside Canada before the law’s effective date to a Canadian parent will qualify to become citizens by descent.

Gagandeep Kaur Sekhon

Gagandeep Kaur Sekhon moved to Canada in 2010 on a study visa. She navigated through the ups and downs of her student life and gained her permanent residency in 2015. Today, she is a proud Canadian citizen residing in Calgary, Alberta. She is mother of 2 beautiful daughters and making her difference through writing and guidance at INC – Immigration News Canada.