Recent amendments to Bill C-3, An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act, propose stricter criteria for citizenship by descent in Canada. The changes would impact children born or adopted after the new legislation takes effect, limiting their ability to gain Canadian citizenship beyond the first generation. Children born or adopted before the implementation of the new law would be exempt from these restrictions.

Under the proposed amendments, children born abroad to or adopted by Canadian citizens by descent would only automatically acquire citizenship if their Canadian parent had spent at least three years in Canada during a five-year period before the child’s birth or adoption. This requirement differs from the previous version of the bill, which did not specify a five-year timeframe for the parent’s physical presence in Canada.

The updated bill also introduces new restrictions, including a security assessment for applicants aged 18 and older, as well as a language and culture knowledge requirement for applicants aged 18-55. These additional criteria aim to ensure that individuals seeking citizenship by descent meet certain standards related to national security, language proficiency, and understanding of Canadian values.

• Security assessment: Applicants aged 18 or older must undergo an assessment for concerns related to national security, human rights violations, criminality, and economic sanctions, even if their parent meets the residency requirement.
• Knowledge of language and culture: Applicants aged 18-55 must demonstrate proficiency in English or French, as well as knowledge of Canada and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Furthermore, the amendments to the Citizenship Act include provisions for an annual report to be presented to Parliament by the Immigration Minister, detailing the individuals who have obtained citizenship under the new law and any waivers of security assessments. The deadline for finalizing the changes to the first-generation limit in the Citizenship Act is set for November 20, 2025, pending approval through parliamentary readings and royal assent.

Interim measures for Lost Canadians

Individuals affected by the current citizenship laws can apply for…