Bill C-3: Restoring Rights for Lost Canadians Born Outside Canada

Ali lived in Dubai when his daughter Lina was born. He always believed she would receive Canadian citizenship through him. However, he soon learned about the complex first-generation limit. Ali searched for answers and discovered that Bill C-3 could change everything. He realized that many families faced the same confusion and needed clear guidance.

Brief Overview Of Bill C-3

Bill C-3 amends the Citizenship Act. Parliament passed Bill C-3, and it received royal assent on November 21, 2025. The government will bring the law into force on a future date by order in council. Therefore, the detailed rules will apply only from that day onward.

Bill C-3 has two main goals. First, it grants citizenship to people who lost it or never had it due to outdated rules. Second, it creates modern rules for citizenship by descent for future children born abroad. Moreover, the new rules link citizenship to real ties with Canada.

Understanding The Old First-Generation Rule

The old first-generation rule created many problems for families. It limited Canadian citizenship by descent to the first generation born abroad. Under the old rule children born outside Canada, could become Canadian citizens at birth only if one of their parents was a naturalized citizen or born inside Canada. Therefore, Canadians born outside Canada could not pass citizenship to their children if those children were also born abroad. The rule created unfair gaps. Moreover, many families discovered these issues only when they applied for proof of citizenship for their children. The old rule caused long delays and left many families without clear solutions.

Who Is A Lost Canadian Under Bill C-3

Bill C-3 creates a new path to citizenship for people who have been historically excluded. These people, often called lost Canadians, faced unfair outcomes under previous laws. Moreover, the bill identifies several groups who should have been citizens. Therefore, the bill restores their citizenship on the day the law comes into effect.

Eligibility Requirements For Lost Canadians Under Bill C-3

Bill C-3 identifies lost Canadians through clear criteria. These people qualify for automatic citizenship once the law comes into force.

People Born Abroad Before The Law

Many people were born outside Canada before Bill C-3 came into effect. They qualify if they had at least one Canadian parent at birth. These people lost citizenship rights because of older laws. However, Bill C-3 restores their citizenship without requiring any application. Moreover, eligibility covers several situations. The person qualifies if they meet at least one of the following points.

• They were born abroad before the in-force date and had a Canadian parent at birth.
• They lost citizenship because their parent also faced an outdated rule.
• They never received citizenship because the first-generation limit blocked them.

People Affected By the Former Section 8

Some people lost citizenship because they did not apply to keep it before they turned 28. This rule appeared under the old section 8 of the Citizenship Act. Bill C-3 corrects this issue. Therefore, anyone who lost citizenship for this reason becomes a citizen again when the law takes effect. The bill covers several scenarios for the former Section 8.

• They failed to submit the retention application before age 28.
• They filed the retention application but did not receive approval.
• Their loss of status was due to a technical or administrative issue.

People Whose Parents Died Before The Law

The bill also protects people whose parent or grandparent died before the bill comes into force. If that parent or grandparent had become a citizen under the new rules, the child would also become a citizen. This rule ensures fairness across generations. Moreover, this rule covers several groups.

• Their parent died before the bill came into effect.
• That parent would have become a citizen under Bill C-3.
• A grandparent could have passed citizenship if they had lived long enough.

Canadians Born Outside Canada When Bill C-3 Comes Into Effect

Bill C-3 changes how future generations abroad receive citizenship. The rules focus on the parent’s birthplace and physical presence. First, Canadian parents need to check whether they were born in Canada or abroad. That difference controls which Bill C-3 rule applies to their children.

When The Parent Was Born In Canada

A Canadian born in Canada passes citizenship to a child born abroad after Bill C-3. The child counts as first-generation born abroad under the Citizenship Act. Therefore, the law treats that child as a citizen from birth, subject to proof of citizenship. However, the parent must still hold Canadian citizenship at the time of birth.

When The Parent Was Born Outside Canada

Canadians born outside Canada face an extra requirement under Bill C-3. They may be granted citizenship only if they demonstrate a substantial connection to Canada. They need to complete that connection before the child’s birth or adoption. In practice, Canadian parents born abroad should review three key points.

• They must hold Canadian citizenship when the child is born or adopted.
• They must spend at least 1,095 days physically in Canada before that date.
• They may add shorter visits together to reach the 1,095-day total.

The Act does not require those days to be consecutive without breaks. Moreover, some service abroad for Canada may still count as presence.

Substantial Connection Requirement In Detail

This substantial connection test replaces the old strict first-generation limit. The law now links citizenship by descent to real life in Canada. Therefore, parents born abroad must carefully plan their time in Canada. They may need strong records to support a Bill C-3 application for their child.

Parents should therefore collect documents that clearly establish their physical presence.

• Travel histories, entry records, or passport stamps showing entries into Canada.
• Employment letters, school records, or leases that confirm life in Canada.
• CRA notices of assessment or other official statements showing residence.

Children Born Or Adopted Abroad After The Law

Children born or adopted abroad after Bill C-3 can gain citizenship in several situations. They gain citizenship automatically if at least one parent meets the eligibility requirements. The following examples help families understand these rules.

• One parent has a Canadian birth and holds citizenship when the child arrives.
• One parent has a foreign birth, holds citizenship, and meets the 1,095-day test.
• Both parents were born abroad, hold citizenship, and one meets the 1,095-day test.

However, some children will not gain citizenship by descent under Bill C-3. Families should watch for the following risk situations.

• Neither parent has had enough physical presence in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption.
• Both parents hold citizenship only by descent and never built a substantial connection.
• The family relies only on a grandparent’s status and does not meet the restored rules.

In these cases, children may need a different path to status in Canada. Families can therefore explore permanent residence and later citizenship through naturalization.

Book A Consultation Session

These new rules under Bill C-3 affect many families. Moreover, every situation requires careful review. Therefore, you can book a consultation session to discuss your case in detail. You will receive practical guidance on how Bill C-3 applies to your family and on the next steps.