OTTAWA, June 8, 2025 — In a landmark move, the Canadian government has introduced Bill C‑3, a proposed legislative overhaul that aims to end the long-standing restriction on citizenship by descent. The bill, introduced in Parliament by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab, seeks to eliminate the controversial “first-generation limit,” a policy that since 2009 has prevented Canadian citizens born abroad from passing on their citizenship to their children also born outside the country.
This first-generation rule has left thousands—often called “Lost Canadians”—without the right to citizenship, even when they were born into Canadian families. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice declared the rule unconstitutional in December 2023, compelling the government to revise its policy framework. Bill C‑3 answers that call, reflecting Canada’s changing societal realities and the increasingly global nature of its citizens.
Under the proposed law, foreign-born Canadian citizens would be able to pass on their citizenship to their children, provided they can demonstrate a “substantial connection” to Canada. This is defined as a minimum of 1,095 cumulative days—roughly three years—of physical presence in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption. The provision serves to ensure that citizenship by descent is rooted in genuine ties to the country.
The bill also has a retroactive component. If passed, it would restore citizenship to those who previously lost or were denied it under the earlier rules, potentially affecting multiple generations. Children born or adopted abroad would automatically gain Canadian citizenship if their parent meets the residency requirement.
While still undergoing parliamentary review, Bill C‑3 must clear three readings in the House and Senate before receiving Royal Assent and becoming law. In the interim, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has begun granting discretionary citizenship to those affected by the 2023 court ruling, provided they—or their Canadian parent—can meet the connection requirement.
Estimates suggest that the reform could benefit more than 115,000 individuals worldwide, many of whom have waited years to establish legal belonging to Canada. The bill is especially significant for Indian-origin families and members of other immigrant communities living abroad, who were previously locked out of passing Canadian nationality to their children.
At a time when other countries, including the United States under former President Donald Trump, have moved to restrict birthright citizenship, Canada’s proposed legislation is being viewed globally as a bold affirmation of inclusivity and human connection. Minister Diab underscored this spirit in Parliament, stating, “The current first-generation limit no longer reflects how Canadian families live today—here at home and around the world—and the values that define our country.”
If enacted, Bill C‑3 will not only rectify past injustices but also expand the scope of who belongs in Canada—no matter where they are born.
