Canadian Citizenship by Descent
Canada has newly revised its citizenship by descent rules. People born outside of Canada before December 15th, 2025 with Canadian lineage may now be eligible for Canadian citizenship by descent (IRCC). Bill C-3 ends the first-generation limit that prevented many from being recognized as Canadian citizens. This establishes that people who have become Canadian citizens under the new law can apply to get proof of citizenship. These “Lost Canadians,” people who lose or never obtained citizenship because of certain outdated rules in earlier citizenship laws, now have the opportunity to reclaim their Canadian citizenship (IRCC). Currently, the processing time is about 15 months with a queue of 4,075 people under the citizenship by descent provision in Bill C-3 (CBC).
Before Bill C-3 was brought into effect, Canada’s Citizenship Act limited the passing on of citizenship to the first-generation for people born or adopted abroad. Instead, Canadian citizens could only pass citizenship down to one generation, usually parent to child (LA Times). This was deemed as unconstitutional, and Bill C-3 was introduced to extend citizenship in a way that is more inclusive and protects the “values of Canadian citizenship” (IRCC).
Popularity Among Americans
Six months after Canada expands its citizenship eligibility, archivists and governmental records offices have experienced a flood of new requests for historical information. Americans make up 48% of those applying for Canadian citizenship (NYT). In May 2026, the National Library and Archives of Quebec received 1,969 requests for archival records, compared with just 87 at the same time last year (CBC). The government says 1,955 applications have been approved between December 15,2025 and March 15, 2026 as a result of Bill C-3. For some, citizenship opens up possibilities to reconnect to their family roots, provide a safe haven from political or economic instability, and access Canada’s social programs, like healthcare and a subsidized university education (NYT).
With a 3,000% growth in requests for certified documents in Quebec, it is clear that the Franco-American history is playing a role in Americans searching for Canadian lineage. Between 1840 and 1930, close to one million French-speaking Canadian, mostly Quebecois, but also Acadians from Eastern Canada, emigrated to the United States in a mass migration movement known as the Great Hemorrhage. They mostly settled in New England factory towns, with a majority in the textile industry. The number of descendants remaining in the United States could be in the millions (CBC). Americans overwhelmingly applying for Canadian citizenship is driven by the current administration’s immigration policies, political uncertainty, and desire for international living options and security (LA Times). Receiving proof of citizenship would grant Americans with the opportunity to move to Canada and hold a Canadian passport (CBC).
Legal Assistance
Claiming citizenship by descent requires archival research and demandsa multitude of information. As this application depends primarily on historical facts, gaps or inconsistencies in documentationcould create issues.We can verify the evidence and generational documentation to ensure the application meets the standards required under the Citizenship Act before submission. The surge in record demands and requests for the IRCC will lead to incoming delays. We can review of all forms and documents that need to be provided to avoidproblems that will deny an applicant’s request. We can facilitate communication between the applicant and the IRCC, in addition to managing any questions or concerns that may arise during this process (NYT).
Eligibility
Persons born outside of Canada to a Canadian parent before December 15th, 2025 are eligible for Canadian citizenship effective from their date of birth of the date they lost their citizenship.
This includes persons who:
- Lost their citizenship on their 28th birthday as a result of the former section 8 of the Citizenship Act.
- Were born between January 1, 1947 and December 15th, 2025 to a person who was a Canadian citizen at the time of their birth.
- Were born before January 1, 1947 to a person who became a Canadian citizen on that date.
- Were born before December 15th, 2025 to a person who became a citizen as a result of amendments to the Citizenship Act in 2009, 2015, or 2025.
Persons born outside of Canada on or after December 15th, 2025 to a Canadian parent who was also born outside Canada are Canadian citizens if their Canadian parent was physically present in Canada for 1095 days cumulative before the person’s birth. (IRCC)
Documents
Be prepared with 1 or more of the following documents issued by the original authority for each person in the application, including but not limited to: (IRCC)
- Provincial or territorial birth certificates,
- Birth certificates from another country that shows the parent-child relationship in each generation,
- Canadian citizenship or naturalization certificates,
- Certificates of Registration of Birth Abroad or Certificates of Retention of Canadian Citizenship,
- British naturalization certificates issued in Canada or Newfoundland and Labrador,
- Proof of British subject status before January 1, 1947 (or April, 1949 for Newfoundland and Labrador),
- Proof of landed immigrant status in Canada before January 1, 1947 (or April, 1949 for Newfoundland and Labrador).
If you cannot provide the official documents, explain in writing why the documents cannot be provided and show proof that you tried to get them via email or letters of confirmation that the records are not available. (IRCC)
Gather two valid pieces of Canadian federal, provincial, or territorial government-issued identification, including but not limited to: (IRCC)
- A driver’s license, age of majority card, passport, certificate of Indian status card, health insurance identification card, senior citizen’s card, or travel document.
- One of the two pieces of identification must have your photo on it.
- Birth certificates, Social Insurance Number cards, bank cards, credit cards, and previous Canadian citizenship certificates are not accepted as personal identification for this application process.
- Birth and marriage certificates issued in Quebec before January 1, 1947 are not accepted.
- If you live outside of Canada and are not able to provide Canadian identity documents, you may provide foreign government-issued documents that are equivalent to the Canadian documents listed.
Be prepared with the following information for the CIT 0001 form, including but not limited to: (IRCC)
- Your birth certificate
- Your family and given names
- Your date of birth
- Your place, country, or territory of birth
- Your gender, current height, and natural eye colour
- Any other names you have been known by (other family names)
- Names, dates of birth, countries of birth, and birth certificates of your parents
- Dates and places of marriage, and dates of death of your parents
- Parental relationshipsof your parents to you
- Citizenship status of your parents
- All known names of grandparents
- Countries or Territories of birth and dates of birth of grandparents
- Registration numbers and certificate numbers of Canadian birth certificates of grandparents
- Citizenship status and citizenship certificate numbers of grandparents
- Dates and places of marriage and dates of deaths of grandparents
- Details on how Canadian citizenship of grandparents was obtained