Canada has taken a major step toward modernising its citizenship laws, offering long-awaited relief to thousands of India-born and other foreign-born Canadians who were previously unable to pass citizenship to their children born or adopted abroad. Bill C-3, an Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025), has received royal assent, signalling Ottawa’s intent to quickly move toward implementation once the federal cabinet sets a start date.
The reform aims to fix long-standing gaps that created an entire category of “lost Canadians”—people who believed they were entitled to citizenship but were excluded because of restrictions introduced in 2009. Under the old rule, Canadians born outside Canada could not automatically transfer their citizenship to their own children if those children were also born abroad. The Ontario Superior Court struck down this limitation as unconstitutional in December 2023, forcing legislative action.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the amended law is designed to restore fairness and reflect the realities of modern families who often live or work overseas. She noted that the updated framework strengthens Canadian citizenship by ensuring it can be passed on consistently and equitably.
Bill C-3 introduces a critical change: children born or adopted abroad beyond the first generation will now be eligible for citizenship if their Canadian parent can demonstrate a substantial connection to Canada. This connection is defined as at least 1,095 days—or three years—of physical presence in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption. Lawmakers have indicated that these days will be counted cumulatively, ensuring flexibility for families with intermittent stays in Canada.
The amendments are expected to significantly benefit Indian-origin families, many of whom were constrained by the earlier restrictions. Canadians working abroad for education, employment or family reasons will now have a clear pathway to secure citizenship rights for their children, without being penalised for living internationally.
The law will come into force once the federal cabinet issues the official implementation order. A court has already extended the deadline to January 2026, giving Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) more time to put administrative systems in place.
Once fully operational, Bill C-3 will not only restore rights to those excluded by previous rules but also align Canada’s citizenship system with the mobility patterns of a globalised workforce, bringing long-overdue clarity and security to thousands of families.
