Canada is updating its citizenship laws to help families with Canadian roots to pass abroad with their citizenship. The government has introduced Bill C -3, which will eliminate the current “first generation limit” that prevents Canadian citizens from granting citizenship to countries born abroad to their foreign origin.
Major changes in Bill C -3
Since 2009, Canadian citizenship by descent has been restricted to only the first generation born abroad. As a result, many families have been unable to pass on their Canadian ties to future generations.
If passed, Bill C-3 will be:
- The first generation limit or previous laws were restored or denied citizenship for lost.
- Allow citizenship from the descent beyond the first generation, as long as Canadian parents lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) before the child’s birth or adoption in Canada.
Why is this happening now?
The change comes after the decision of an Ontario Superior Court in December 2023, which declared the first generation boundary unconstitutional for Canadian parents to discriminate against children born abroad. Instead of filing an appeal, the government chose to amend the law.
Who stands for profit?
New rules can help:
- Can Canadian parents pass on citizenship to children born outside of Canada?
- Internationally adopted children of Canadian citizens
- “Lost Canadian” which were lost under previous laws or were denied citizenship
- Individuals who lost their citizenship at age 28 under the previous regulations
The previous reforms (2009 and 2015) restored citizenship for around 20,000 people, and Bill C -3 is expected to help many more.
Keywords:
- Canada citizenship law changes
- Canadian citizenship by descent
- Bill C-3 citizenship Canada
- First-generation limit Canada
- Canadian citizenship for children born abroad
- Lost Canadians citizenship
- Dual citizenship Canada
- How to get Canadian citizenship for child born outside Canada
- Canada citizenship rules 2024
- IRCC citizenship updates
- “Can I pass Canadian citizenship to my grandchild?”
- “New Canada citizenship law for expats”
- “Restoration of Canadian citizenship 2024”
- “Canada ends first-generation citizenship limit”
- *”How does Bill C-3 affect Canadian families abroad?”*
