LAW

45th Parliament · Session 1

Bill C-3: An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025)

Introduced

June 5, 2025

Current Stage

RoyalAssentGiven

Last Updated

November 20, 2025

Sponsor

Lena Metlege Diab

Community Support

Community Vote

33% Support

3 votes

Politicians' Vote

52% Support

340 MPs

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Engagement

Votes

3

Comments

0

Follows

0

Parliamentary Votes

4

Statements

117

Bill C-3

Thu Nov 20 2025

An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025)

Impact Rating

4/5

Short Summary

Ends the 'second-generation cut-off' rule. Canadians born abroad can now pass citizenship to their children if they have lived in Canada for at least 3 years.

Citizenship
Lost Canadians
Immigration
Expatriates
Family Rights

This bill changes the rules for passing Canadian citizenship to children born outside Canada. Previously, if a Canadian was born abroad, they generally could not pass citizenship to their own children born abroad (the 'second-generation cut-off'). This bill replaces that strict rule with a new 'substantial connection' test. Now, a Canadian parent born abroad can pass citizenship to their child if the parent has lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) before the child's birth. It also restores citizenship to many 'Lost Canadians' who were previously excluded.

Why does this bill exist?

Origin (Court Ruling)

This bill is a required response to the Ontario Superior Court ruling in 'Bjorkquist et al. v. Attorney General', which declared the second-generation cut-off unconstitutional.

  • Abolishes the 'second-generation cut-off' rule that prevented Canadians born abroad from passing citizenship to their children.

  • Introduces a 'Substantial Connection' test: Parents born abroad must prove they lived in Canada for 1,095 days (3 years) to pass on citizenship.

  • Retroactively restores citizenship to 'Lost Canadians' who were excluded by previous laws or failed to retain citizenship.

  • Updates rules for adopted children to align with the new 'substantial connection' requirement.

  • Creates a simplified process for people to renounce (give up) citizenship if they became citizens automatically but do not want the status (e.g., for tax reasons).

  • Applies to children born both before and after the bill becomes law, covering past exclusions.

Canadians living abroad

(Rights Expanded)

They can now pass citizenship to their children born overseas, provided they lived in Canada for 3 years previously.

Lost Canadians

(Rights Expanded)

People who were previously told they were not citizens due to the 2009 laws will automatically become citizens.

New Parents

(Harder)

Parents born abroad will need to gather documents (leases, school records) to prove they lived in Canada for 3 years to ensure their child is a citizen.

Provincial Impact

Provincial Impact

Low (Information Sharing) Interaction

Citizenship is strictly federal. Provinces may need to update health card eligibility rules for these new returning citizens, but no legislative change is required.

Benefits & Pros

Restores rights to thousands of 'Lost Canadians' who were unfairly stripped of their status.

Allows Canadian families living abroad to keep their citizenship connection through generations.

Complies with a Superior Court ruling that declared the previous cut-off unconstitutional.

Provides a fair, objective test (3 years residency) rather than an arbitrary generational limit.

Beneficiaries

Canadians living abroad (Expats)
Children of Canadians born abroad
Adoptive parents

Risks & Cons

Proving 'physical presence' from decades ago (to meet the 3-year rule) may be administratively difficult for some families.

Could increase the backlog at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) due to new applications.

Some individuals may unknowingly become citizens, potentially creating tax complications (though a renunciation process is included).

Affected Groups

IRCC Staff (Increased workload)
Accidental Citizens (Potential tax complexity)

Before & After

Currently: Alice is born in France to Canadian parents who were also born in France. Alice is NOT a Canadian citizen because of the 'second-generation cut-off'. Under this Bill: Alice IS a Canadian citizen, provided her parents can prove they lived in Canada for at least 3 years before she was born.

Real World Scenario

Currently: A Canadian man working in London (who was born in London himself) has a daughter. She is legally considered a foreigner and needs a visa to move to Canada. Under this Bill: That daughter is automatically a Canadian citizen if her father spent his university years (3+ years) living in Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions

Votes on this bill

Vote 47

Agreed To

3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025)

Wed Nov 05 2025

Yeas: 177

Nays: 163

Total: 340

Vote 45

Agreed To

Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025)

Mon Nov 03 2025

Yeas: 169

Nays: 163

Total: 334

Vote 44

Agreed To

Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025) (report stage amendment)

Mon Nov 03 2025

Yeas: 170

Nays: 163

Total: 335

Vote 36

Agreed To

2nd reading of Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025)

Mon Sep 22 2025

Yeas: 189

Nays: 138

Total: 337

Sponsor

Lena Metlege Diab

Member of Parliament

House of Commons

First reading

Completed on June 5, 2025

Second reading

Completed on September 22, 2025

Consideration in committee

Completed on October 9, 2025

Report stage

Completed on November 3, 2025

Third reading

Completed on November 5, 2025

Senate

First reading

Completed on November 6, 2025

Second reading

Completed on November 6, 2025

Consideration in committee

Completed on November 18, 2025

Third reading

Completed on November 19, 2025

Royal Assent

Royal assent

Completed on November 20, 2025

Abuse Potential

The primary risk is bureaucratic rather than malicious. The bill relies on the government verifying '1,095 days' of physical presence. If the government sets the standard of proof too high (e.g., demanding old plane tickets or utility bills from 20 years ago that no longer exist), they could effectively deny citizenship to eligible people despite the law. There is also a minor risk of fraud where individuals falsify residency history to gain citizenship, but standard fraud checks usually mitigate this.

Implementation Risk

Moderate. The main risk is the government's ability to process the surge of applications and verify residency claims from decades ago without causing massive delays.

Broad Economic Impact

None. No impact on the domestic economy.

Everyday Life

Minimal impact. For 95% of Canadians born in Canada, this changes nothing.

Admin Burden

High for applicants. Proving 1,095 days of past residency requires significant paperwork.

Timeline

Immediate upon Royal Assent, though processing applications will take time.