Recent discussions on birthright citizenship have brought attention to its significance, particularly following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision regarding the matter.

While the debate continues in various countries, birthright citizenship is not exclusive to the U.S. Many nations, including Canada, acknowledge some form of it.

Canada, for instance, automatically grants Canadian citizenship to anyone born on Canadian soil in most cases. A recent legislative change, known as Bill C-3 effective from December 15, 2025, now allows this citizenship to be inherited across generations.

The Impact of Bill C-3

Bill C-3, enacted on December 15, 2025, amended Canada’s Citizenship Act by removing the previous restriction on citizenship transmission to only one generation for those born before the specified date.

Prior to this change, citizenship by descent was limited to one generation born outside Canada, excluding grandchildren and further descendants. Bill C-3 now enables individuals born before December 15, 2025, to claim Canadian citizenship through an unbroken line of descent, regardless of the ancestor’s generation or birthplace.

For children born or adopted abroad after December 15, 2025, a substantial connection test applies, requiring the Canadian parent to demonstrate a specific period of physical presence in Canada before the child’s birth.

Significance of Birthright Citizenship in Canada

Birthright citizenship, legally termed jus soli, confers citizenship automatically to individuals born within a country’s borders, irrespective of their parents’ nationality. Canada has adhered to this principle since the implementation of the Citizenship Act in 1947, making anyone born on Canadian territory a Canadian citizen by birth.

With the inclusion of Bill C-3, numerous American families are now eligible for Canadian citizenship, as birthright citizenship is the foundation of their ancestral ties to Canada. This legislation allows the continuation of citizenship through generations, even for descendants born before December 15, 2025, who have never visited Canada.