Canada’s Citizenship Reform: Bill C-3 and Its Impact

Canada is on the verge of enacting Bill C-3, a substantial reform that will enhance citizenship rights for numerous individuals born outside the country.

The recent court decision has extended the deadline for finalizing the amendment to January 20, 2026. However, there is a possibility that the bill could become law even before the end of 2025, given its advanced progress in the Senate.

Bill C-3 is set to eliminate the First-Generation Limit, enabling Canadians born abroad to transmit citizenship to their children born overseas if they meet the requirement of at least three years of physical presence in Canada. Additionally, it will reinstate status for individuals known as “Lost Canadians” and streamline the citizenship process for internationally adopted children.

While the law is still in the process of being fully implemented, interim measures are in place, allowing many affected individuals to seek citizenship through a discretionary procedure.

If approved, this reform will mark one of the most substantial updates to Canada’s Citizenship Act in many years, addressing longstanding deficiencies and reuniting numerous Canadian families across the globe.