If you were born outside Canada and have a Canadian grandparent, you may be able to apply for proof of Canadian citizenship under updated regulations, even if neither of your parents holds Canadian citizenship.

On December 15, 2025, new legislation was enacted that removed the first-generation limit (FGL) to citizenship by descent.

With the implementation of Bill C-3, An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act, individuals with at least one Canadian grandparent are now eligible for Canadian citizenship by descent, provided they were born before December 15, 2025.

Prior to this legislative change, the FGL restricted the transmission of Canadian citizenship to descendants of Canadian citizens.

The updated law has eliminated the FGL for individuals born before its enactment, allowing them to apply to the government for confirmation of Canadian citizenship.

Understanding Citizenship by Descent

While most children born in Canada automatically acquire Canadian citizenship at birth, those born outside Canada fall under citizenship by descent regulations. Children of Canadian citizens, whether by birth or adoption, inherit Canadian citizenship through this process.

Individuals who obtain citizenship by descent must apply for official confirmation of their citizenship from the government.

Post-Application Process

If your citizenship application is approved, you will receive a citizenship certificate, enabling you to apply for a Canadian passport. As a Canadian citizen, you possess the right to enter, reside, vote, and run for public office in Canada.

Most applicants are required to submit their citizenship applications online, along with documentation proving their lineage to a Canadian parent or grandparent. The current processing time for citizenship confirmation applications stands at 10 months.