Karandeep-Ottawa | November 21, 2025: Canada has reached an important milestone in fixing long-standing citizenship problems that have affected families inside and outside the country for decades. The federal government confirmed that Bill C-3, a major update to the Citizenship Act, has officially received Royal Assent. The change will give many Canadians — who were previously blocked by older rules — a clear and fair way to pass their citizenship to children born or adopted abroad. Government officials say the new law makes the system more modern, more consistent, and better aligned with today’s reality, where Canadian families often move or work internationally.
What the New Law Will Do
Once the law comes into effect, it will:
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Grant Canadian citizenship to people who would have been citizens if outdated rules had not prevented it.
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Allow Canadian parents who were born or adopted outside Canada to pass citizenship to their children born or adopted abroad in the future — but only if they have a real and proven connection to Canada.
The government says this approach balances fairness for families while protecting the value and meaning of citizenship.
Minister’s Statement
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the bill fixes long-standing gaps in the law and brings justice to families that were left out.
“Bill C-3 will fix long-standing issues in our citizenship laws and bring fairness to families with children born or adopted abroad. It will provide citizenship to people who were excluded by previous laws and set clear rules for the future.”
Advocates who have fought this issue for years also welcomed the change.
Don Chapman, founder of the “Lost Canadians” group, called it a major step forward.
“By updating the Citizenship Act to reflect the global mobility of modern Canadian families, the government has made access to citizenship more fair and reasonable.”
Why This Needed to Happen
Canada’s older citizenship laws created many problems:
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The 1947 Citizenship Act caused thousands of people to lose their status or never receive it.
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Fixes introduced in 2009 and 2015 helped many, but some were still left out.
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The first-generation limit, introduced in 2009, blocked citizenship for children born abroad if their Canadian parent was also born abroad.
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In 2023, an Ontario court ruled the limit unconstitutional. The government agreed not to appeal.
Bill C-3 is designed to close these gaps for good.
What Happens Next
The law will officially take effect on a date chosen by the federal cabinet.
Until then, the interim policy for people affected by the first-generation limit remains in place.
More details will be shared publicly once implementation begins.
Those affected can check updates through the Citizenship section on the IRCC website.