GOOD NEWS: BILL C-3 HAS OFFICIALLY BECOME LAW (DECEMBER 15, 2025)
IRCC has officially brought Bill C-3, which amends the Canadian Citizenship Act, into force as of December 15, 2025.
This change has a direct and significant impact on Canadians who were born or adopted outside Canada, as well as their children.
🔹 1️⃣ Who is recognized as a Canadian citizen under the new law?
Under Bill C-3, individuals born before December 15, 2025 may now be recognized as Canadian citizens if they would have qualified in the past but were excluded due to:
- The first-generation limit, or
- Outdated provisions of the Citizenship Act
➡️ These individuals are now recognized as Canadian citizens and may apply for a citizenship certificate.
📌 They do not need to submit a brand-new application from scratch. Their cases will be assessed under the new law.
Example:
Mr. A is a Canadian citizen born outside Canada (for example, the United States).
His daughter, Ms. B, was also born outside Canada (for example, Vietnam).
- Under the first-generation limit introduced in 2009, Mr. A remained a Canadian citizen, but he could not pass citizenship to Ms. B because both were born outside Canada.
- Under Bill C-3 (effective December 15, 2025), Ms. B is now recognized as a Canadian citizen and may apply for a citizenship certificate, even if she was previously refused.
🔹 2️⃣ New rules for children born or adopted abroad going forward
The new law establishes a clear and consistent pathway for future cases:
A Canadian citizen who was born or adopted outside Canada may still pass citizenship to a child born or adopted outside Canada if they can demonstrate at least 3 years of physical residence in Canada before:
- the child’s birth, or
- the completion of the adoption.
📌 Core principle of the new law:
Citizenship by descent must be supported by a real and meaningful connection to Canada.
🔹 3️⃣ Why this change matters
- It addresses long-standing consequences of previous rules that caused many people to lose, or never be recognized for, Canadian citizenship.
- It directly responds to the 2023 Ontario Superior Court decision, which found parts of the Citizenship Act unconstitutional.
- It reflects modern reality: Canadians may study, work, and build families abroad while maintaining genuine ties to Canada.
🔹 4️⃣ Who should review their citizenship status now?
You should reassess your citizenship status if:
- You were born or adopted outside Canada, and
- One or both of your parents are Canadian citizens who were also born or adopted outside Canada, or
- You were previously found ineligible due to the first-generation limit.
Although the law is now in force, correct application depends heavily on individual circumstances, including:
- date of birth or adoption,
- parents’ citizenship status,
- actual residence history in Canada, and
- documents proving a real connection to Canada.
📩 SICON provides support with:
- reviewing citizenship eligibility under Bill C-3,
- assessing eligibility for a citizenship certificate,
- advising on pathways for children born or adopted outside Canada.
Contact SICON Immigration to have your case reviewed under the new law, at the right time, and to avoid missing out on Canadian citizenship rights for you and your family.
