Canada Immigration December 2025: Bill C-3 Citizenship Changes Explained

Bill C-3 is the Government of Canada’s legislative response to the Ontario Superior Court ruling in Bjorkquist v. Canada (2023), which struck down the so-called “second-generation cut-off” rule that denied Canadian citizenship to children born outside Canada to Canadian parents who were themselves born outside Canada.

What was the second-generation cut-off?

Under the previous Citizenship Act amendments (2009), Canadian citizenship by descent was limited to the first generation born abroad. If a Canadian parent was born outside Canada and had a child outside Canada, that child did not automatically receive Canadian citizenship.

The court found this rule unconstitutional under the Charter’s mobility rights protections.

What Bill C-3 does

Bill C-3 amends the Citizenship Act to:

1. Restore citizenship to those wrongly denied under the cut-off (commonly called “Lost Canadians”).
2. Allow citizenship by descent beyond the first generation if the Canadian parent had a substantial connection to Canada (defined as accumulated 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada in the 5 years immediately before the child’s birth).
3. Restore citizenship retroactively to individuals who would have been citizens but for the cut-off rule.

Who’s affected

• Second-generation Canadians born abroad to Canadian parents who were also born abroad.
• Individuals previously known as “Lost Canadians” who lost citizenship due to legislative gaps in older versions of the Citizenship Act.
• Children of Canadian parents who took up another citizenship before 1947, in some cases.

How to apply

If you believe you may qualify under Bill C-3 changes:

1. Apply for proof of Canadian citizenship (form CIT 0001) with supporting documents proving your parent’s Canadian citizenship and their substantial connection to Canada (where required).
2. Get a citizenship certificate if approved.
3. Apply for a Canadian passport if desired.

Processing for proof of citizenship applications: ~17 months currently.

Implications

This change affects an estimated tens of thousands of people worldwide who descended from Canadians but were denied citizenship status. It may also have implications for immigration, sponsorship eligibility, and tax obligations.

For help with proof of citizenship or related family sponsorship implications, contact our team.

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