Canada’s Bill C-3 has removed the generational limit on citizenship by descent. If a grandparent, great-grandparent, or earlier ancestor was Canadian, you may already be a citizen — and simply need to prove it.
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New Law — Effective December 15, 2025: Bill C-3 has permanently removed the first-generation limit. Millions of people worldwide may now qualify for Canadian citizenship who were previously excluded. Don’t miss your window.
Am I Eligible?
The rules depend on whether you were born before or after the new legislation came into force on December 15, 2025.
Bill C-3 retroactively grants citizenship to individuals who were previously excluded by the old first-generation limit. If you have a direct Canadian ancestor — a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent — you may already be a Canadian citizen and simply need proof.
There is no generational limit for past births. An unbroken line of descent to a Canadian citizen — however many generations back — may be enough.
✓ You may already be a citizen. You need a Citizenship Certificate as proof.
For children born to a Canadian parent who was themselves born abroad, citizenship passes only if that Canadian parent can demonstrate a substantial connection to Canada: at least 1,095 cumulative days (3 years) of physical presence in Canada before the child’s birth.
The 1,095 days do not need to be consecutive. Adopted children born abroad in the second generation or later may also be eligible through a direct grant process.
✓ Eligibility depends on parent’s physical presence in Canada.
Why It Matters
Canadian citizenship is more than a passport. It’s access to rights, security, and opportunity that can benefit you and future generations.
Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 180+ countries. One of the world’s most powerful travel documents.
Full access to Canada’s public healthcare system once you establish provincial residency.
The right to live, work, and study anywhere in Canada without a permit or visa of any kind.
Access to Canada’s world-class universities and colleges at domestic tuition rates — a fraction of international fees.
Sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, or family members for permanent residence in Canada.
A Canadian citizenship provides a stable second nationality — an invaluable safety net in uncertain times.
Our Process
We handle the complexity so you don’t have to. From the first consultation to your Citizenship Certificate, we’re with you every step.
You meet directly with a licensed immigration lawyer who reviews your family history and gives you a clear eligibility assessment under Bill C-3.
We identify exactly which documents are needed — birth certificates, passports, proof of connection — and guide you through gathering them.
We prepare and submit your Citizenship Certificate application to IRCC, ensuring everything is accurate and complete to avoid delays.
Once approved, you receive your Citizenship Certificate. We then help you apply for your Canadian passport and SIN number.
Why Green & Spiegel
Green & Spiegel has been practising immigration law in Canada for decades. Our clients trust us because we know these laws inside and out — including the new Bill C-3 changes.
Green & Spiegel made what seemed like an impossible process completely manageable. Within months, I had my Canadian Citizenship Certificate and passport — something I didn't even know I was entitled to.
US-based client, citizenship through grandparent
Common Questions
Most of our clients come to us with a grandparent or great-grandparent who was Canadian. Here’s what you need to know.
Possibly — and this is exactly what Bill C-3 was designed to address. Under the old rules, citizenship could only pass one generation outside Canada. So if your parent was born abroad to a Canadian grandparent, you were cut off. Bill C-3 retroactively removed that limit. If your grandparent was a Canadian citizen, your parent’s citizenship is now retroactively recognized, which means you may have been a Canadian citizen since birth — without ever knowing it. A consultation with our lawyers will confirm whether your specific family chain qualifies.
Yes — and you may be surprised how far back the chain can go. There is no generational cap for people born before December 15, 2025. What matters is an unbroken line of descent from a qualifying Canadian ancestor. A “relevant Canadian ancestor” includes anyone born in Canada, granted Canadian citizenship after 1946, or even a British subject ordinarily resident in Canada before 1947. This means a great-grandparent — or in some cases even further back — can be the anchor for your claim. The key is documenting every link in the chain.
That’s fine — and very common. Many people held Canadian citizenship without ever applying for a passport or citizenship certificate. Under the law, citizenship is a status that exists by operation of law, not something you lose simply by not using it. If your grandparent would have been a Canadian citizen under the rules that applied at the time of their life, that status flows down to your parent and potentially to you. Our lawyers assess the historical citizenship status of your ancestors as part of the consultation.
You’ll need to document every generational link in the chain — typically birth certificates for yourself, your parent(s), your grandparent, and any ancestor up to the qualifying Canadian. Marriage certificates are needed wherever a surname changes. If older records aren’t available (common for generations born in the early 1900s), IRCC accepts alternatives such as baptismal records, census records, naturalization certificates, military records, or probate documents. Resources like FamilySearch and Ancestry.com are often helpful. Our lawyers will give you a precise document checklist for your specific situation after your consultation.
This is a crucial distinction. Most applicants under Bill C-3 are not seeking a grant of citizenship — they are asking IRCC to recognize citizenship they already hold by law. If you qualify, you have been a Canadian citizen since birth. What you’re applying for is a Citizenship Certificate, which is simply proof of that existing status. This matters because it means no language tests, no residency requirements, and no knowledge exam. You are confirming a right, not applying for a privilege. Framing your application correctly from the start is something our lawyers are very experienced with.
Yes — and this is an important nuance. Adopted individuals cannot apply for citizenship by descent. They must instead apply for a grant of citizenship through a separate process. This also affects children of adopted parents: if your parent was adopted and they have not yet obtained a grant of citizenship and taken the oath, you cannot use citizenship by descent either — your parent must complete their own process first. If adoption is part of your family history, our lawyers will map out the correct sequence of applications for your situation.
Current IRCC processing times for citizenship certificates are running approximately 11 months, though this is subject to change. Given the volume of new applications generated by Bill C-3, wait times are likely to grow. There is also genuine uncertainty about how long the current rules — which have no generational cap for past births — will remain in their current form. We advise clients to act sooner rather than later. The earlier you begin, the sooner your application is in the queue.Current IRCC processing times for citizenship certificates are running approximately 11 months, though this is subject to change. Given the volume of new applications generated by Bill C-3, wait times are likely to grow. There is also genuine uncertainty about how long the current rules — which have no generational cap for past births — will remain in their current form. We advise clients to act sooner rather than later. The earlier you begin, the sooner your application is in the queue.
No to both. You do not need to live in Canada, move to Canada, or even visit Canada to apply for or receive your Citizenship Certificate. The entire process can be completed from abroad. Canada also permits dual citizenship, so you will not need to renounce your existing nationality. Whether your current country allows dual citizenship is a separate question — the US, UK, and Australia all do, but we recommend confirming with your home country’s authorities if you are unsure.
Book a consultation with one of our immigration lawyers. We’ll review your situation, confirm your eligibility, and map out your exact next steps.
Prefer to call? Reach us at 416.862.7880 | info@gands.com
Legal Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every individual’s circumstances are unique. Green & Spiegel LLP is a licensed immigration law firm in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario. Consultation with a qualified immigration lawyer is recommended before making any decisions about your citizenship status.