Citizenship by Descent: Bill C-3 Guide

What Is Citizenship by Descent?

Citizenship by descent means acquiring Canadian citizenship through your parent(s) rather than by being born on Canadian soil (jus soli) or through naturalization. Under the Citizenship Act, certain persons born outside Canada to a Canadian parent are Canadian citizens from birth, they don't apply for citizenship, they apply for proof of citizenship they already have.

This is distinct from immigration. A citizen by descent has the same rights as any Canadian citizen, the right to live, work, and vote in Canada, hold a Canadian passport, and pass citizenship to their own children (subject to generational limits).

"Lost Canadians": Who Are They?

"Lost Canadians" is an informal term for people who were, or should have been: Canadian citizens but lost their citizenship (or never acquired it) due to gaps and discriminatory provisions in previous citizenship legislation. Common Lost Canadian situations include:

• Persons born abroad to a Canadian mother before 1977, the old Citizenship Act only transmitted citizenship through the father
• Women who automatically lost Canadian citizenship upon marrying a foreign national before 1977
• Persons born in Canada before 1947 who were British subjects (Canada had no separate citizenship until the 1947 Citizenship Act)
• Second-generation born abroad before April 17, 2009 who failed to retain citizenship by applying before age 28 (old retention rule)
• Children born abroad to Canadian parents who never registered the birth with Canadian authorities

Many of these situations were resolved by earlier amendments (notably in 2009 and 2015), which restored citizenship to people affected by the pre-1977 rules and the loss of citizenship before the 1947 Citizenship Act. Bill C-3 builds on those changes, including restoring status to a group affected by the former section 8 retention rule. If you believe you may be a Lost Canadian, you can apply for a proof of citizenship; the application process will determine whether you are (and may always have been) a citizen.

The First-Generation Limit: Before vs After Bill C-3

Since April 17, 2009, Canadian citizenship by descent was limited to the first generation born abroad. This meant:

Under Bill C-3, the "substantial connection to Canada" test has a specific benchmark: the Canadian parent who was themselves born or adopted abroad must have accumulated at least 1,095 days (three years) of cumulative physical presence in Canada at any time before the child's birth or adoption. The days do not need to be consecutive. Importantly, this substantial-connection requirement applies to children born or adopted abroad on or after December 15, 2025. People born or adopted abroad before that date who would have been citizens but for the old first-generation limit are now citizens automatically and can apply for proof of citizenship. IRCC assesses the connection during the proof of citizenship application; confirm current guidance and what evidence counts on canada.ca.

Eligibility: Are You a Canadian Citizen?

Work through this decision tree to determine if you may be a Canadian citizen by descent:

How to Apply: Proof of Citizenship

If you believe you are a Canadian citizen by descent, you apply for a proof of citizenship certificate using IRCC form CIT 0001 (Application for a Citizenship Certificate: Adults) or CIT 0002 (for minors). The process:

1. 1

   Download and complete CIT 0001 or CIT 0002

   Available on canada.ca. Complete all sections including parent's citizenship details.

2. 2

   Gather supporting documents

   Birth certificate (yours), parent's Canadian birth certificate or citizenship certificate, proof of parent's identity, and any documents showing substantial connection to Canada (if second generation).

3. 3

   Pay the government fee

   The proof of citizenship application fee is $75 CAD (adults). No right of citizenship fee applies, you are proving existing citizenship, not applying for a grant.

4. 4

   Submit your application

   Mail the completed application and all documents to the IRCC Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

5. 5

   Wait for processing

   Processing times vary by case. Second-generation cases under Bill C-3 may take longer as the substantial connection test is assessed. Check the current proof of citizenship processing time on canada.ca.

6. 6

   Receive your citizenship certificate

   Once approved, you receive a citizenship certificate. You can then apply for a Canadian passport.

Required Documents

Gather the following before submitting your proof of citizenship application:

• Your birth certificate (long form, showing parent names)
• Parent's Canadian birth certificate or citizenship certificate
• Parent's valid or expired Canadian passport (if available)
• Two citizenship photos meeting IRCC specifications
• Government-issued photo ID (current)
• Marriage certificates if name has changed
• For Bill C-3 substantial connection cases: evidence of parent's time in Canada (tax returns, school records, employment records, residential leases, etc.)
• For Lost Canadian cases: any historical documents proving the Canadian connection (immigration records, census records, military records)
• Translation of any documents not in English or French (certified translation)

Processing Times

IRCC does not publish a separate processing time for every category of proof of citizenship case, and times change. Cases needing assessment of the substantial connection test or historical records generally take longer. Check the current proof of citizenship processing time on canada.ca.

Dual and Multiple Citizenship

Canada fully recognizes dual (and multiple) citizenship. Claiming Canadian citizenship by descent does not require you to renounce your current citizenship. Key points:

• You can hold Canadian citizenship alongside US, UK, or any other citizenship
• Canada will not notify your current country of citizenship, your disclosure obligations depend on that country's laws
• As a Canadian citizen, you must enter Canada on a Canadian passport (or with a Canadian travel document)
• Some countries do not recognize dual citizenship, check your country's laws before applying
• US citizens who acquire Canadian citizenship do not lose their US citizenship, the US also allows dual nationality
• Tax implications: Canadian citizens have Canadian tax obligations if they reside in Canada. Simply holding citizenship while living abroad does not create Canadian tax liability (unlike US worldwide taxation)

Americans with Canadian Ancestry

Many Americans have at least one Canadian-born parent or grandparent. Interest in Canadian citizenship by descent has grown among Americans, driven in part by the newly expanded eligibility under Bill C-3.

If you are an American with Canadian ancestry, here's what to check:

• Was a parent born in Canada? → You are very likely a Canadian citizen already. Apply for proof.
• Was a grandparent born in Canada, and did your parent live in Canada? → If you were born before December 15, 2025, you may already be a citizen. If born on or after that date, you qualify only if your parent had at least 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada before your birth (the substantial connection test).
• Was a parent a Canadian citizen who never lived in Canada? → The substantial connection test may still be met through other ties (property, family, financial connections).
• Do you have a Canadian birth certificate for your parent? → This is the single most important document. Start searching.

Canadian citizenship gives Americans a Canadian passport with broad visa-free travel, access to provincial healthcare (if resident), and the right to live and work anywhere in Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions