NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE FIRST-GENERATION LIMIT 2025

📅 As of April 4, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has expanded its interim policy to support all citizenship and adoption applications affected by the first-generation limit.

💡 What is the First-Generation Limit?

Under Canada’s Citizenship Act, a child born outside Canada can only inherit citizenship if one parent is a first-generation Canadian citizen (i.e. born in Canada or naturalized). That means:

🔹 If both parents are Canadian citizens but were also born outside Canada, their child is not automatically eligible for Canadian citizenship.
🔸 The only exception applies to children of Canadian government employees working abroad.

📌 This rule has caused difficulties for many Canadian families living and working overseas.

✅ What’s new as of April 4, 2025?

IRCC has expanded its interim policy to:

🔹 Apply to all applications for proof of citizenship and adoption affected by the first-generation limit
🔹 Provide a clearer, faster, and more consistent process

📣 This change follows a directive issued on March 13 by the Minister of Immigration, aiming to reduce legal and emotional burdens on affected families.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Real-Life Impact: Your Family Could Benefit

Example: A Canadian couple (both born outside Canada to Canadian parents) live and work abroad and adopt a child in their country of residence.

👉 Under the old rule, their adopted child would not qualify for Canadian citizenship, because the parents were not “first-generation” Canadians.
🛑 As a result, the child would have little to no chance of gaining Canadian citizenship, despite having Canadian parents.

📅 But now, under the new policy starting April 4, 2025:

✅ Applications like theirs will be reviewed more positively and fairly.
➡️ No more “gray area” – cases are no longer vague or easily rejected. There is now clear guidance and a higher chance of approval.

🧭 Why This Matters

✅ Breaks down barriers for global families
✅ Updates the Citizenship Act to reflect modern realities
✅ Creates fairer opportunities for children born or adopted outside Canada

📩 If you (or someone you know) were affected by the first-generation limit, now is the perfect time to revisit your citizenship file.
SICON is here to help you review and prepare your documents!