Canadian citizenship by descent. Fundamentally expanded by Bill C-3 of 15 December 2025 (the "Lost Canadians Bill"), which removed the first-generation limit and now recognises an unbroken ancestral chain to any direct Canadian ancestor — making millions of Americans, Britons, and Australians newly eligible for one of the world's strongest passports.
Canada (population ~40 million; capital Ottawa) overhauled its citizenship-by-descent framework on 15 December 2025 with the passage and royal assent of Bill C-3 (the “Lost Canadians Bill”). The reform responded to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruling in Bjorkquist v. Canada (2023), which held that the previous “first-generation limit” on citizenship by descent was unconstitutional. Under the new framework: applicants born before 15 December 2025 can claim Canadian citizenship through any direct ancestor whose Canadian citizenship chain remains unbroken to them — grandparent, great-grandparent, or more distant. Applicants born on or after 15 December 2025 are subject to a substantial-connection test: their Canadian parent must have accumulated 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada (three cumulative years) before the child’s birth. The reform makes millions of Americans newly eligible — many are applying “just in case,” according to CNN reporting from March 2026. The Canadian passport delivers ~185 visa-free destinations, a G7 economy, and Commonwealth institutional recognition worldwide.
Used by Americans with Canadian ancestry (grandparent or more distant) newly eligible under Bill C-3, UK and Australian applicants with Canadian-born ancestors, families seeking Commonwealth-passport optionality as a hedge, and parents establishing 1,095-day connection for children born post-December 2025 — for whom Canada’s December 2025 reform created the most generous descent-citizenship framework of any major country.
Why Canadian citizenship by descent
The December 2025 Bill C-3 reform created the most generous descent-citizenship rule of any major country. Here is what Canadian citizenship now delivers.
Unlimited generational reach (pre-15 Dec 2025 births)
For applicants born before 15 December 2025, Canada now imposes no generational cap on citizenship by descent. If you have any direct Canadian ancestor — grandparent, great-grandparent, or more distant — and the chain of Canadian citizenship has not been formally severed along the way, you are likely a Canadian citizen already. The only two other major countries with no generational limit for pre-reform births are Poland and Lithuania; Canada's framework is by far the widest in practical effect.
Millions of Americans newly eligible
CNN reported in March 2026 that "millions of Americans" are now automatically Canadian citizens under Bill C-3, with many applying for Proof of Citizenship "just in case" as a political-hedge option. A Canadian grandmother who emigrated to the US in the 1950s, or a great-grandfather who crossed the border in 1920, can now support a citizenship claim that was barred under the previous first-generation rule.
G7 passport with ~185 visa-free destinations
The Canadian passport delivers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 185 destinations, including the entire Schengen Area (ETIAS pre-clearance from late 2026), the UK (ETA from early 2025), Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, most of Latin America, and large parts of Africa and the Middle East. The US is not visa-free technically — a B1/B2 visa or ESTA applies — but practically, Canadian citizens enjoy land-border travel without formal visa under established reciprocity.
Post-15-December-2025 births: 1,095-day substantial connection
For births on or after 15 December 2025, Bill C-3 introduces a substantial-connection test: the Canadian parent must have accumulated 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada (three cumulative years) before the child's birth. This replaces the previous first-generation limit with a residence-based proxy for genuine connection. For families planning children, the 1,095-day clock runs on the Canadian parent's pre-birth Canadian days — we build the evidence pack to substantiate this.
Quebec distinct-society considerations
Quebec operates its own civil-law-influenced vital-records framework (Directeur de l'état civil) distinct from the common-law provinces. For Quebec-born ancestors, document retrieval and certification follow a separate workflow. Bill C-3 applies equally across all provinces and territories; Quebec-line applicants benefit from the same unlimited-generations framework for pre-December-2025 births.
Free citizenship, but IRCC-quality documentation required
Like all descent routes, Canadian jure sanguinis requires no investment or donation — clients pay only for professional services. But Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) applies high documentary standards on Proof of Citizenship applications: Library and Archives Canada records, provincial vital statistics, census records where needed, and evidence of unbroken citizenship chain. Liberty Mundo assembles the complete IRCC-grade pack.
What's included in the service
Everything required to move from initial Bill C-3 eligibility analysis through IRCC Proof of Citizenship grant to a Canadian passport in hand, handled end-to-end by Liberty Mundo's citizenship lawyers and Canadian-descent specialists.
Canada (post-Bill C-3) vs the other major descent routes
Post-Bill C-3, Canada is now the most generous descent-citizenship framework among major countries — for pre-15-December-2025 births. Here is how it compares.
| Feature | Canada (pre-Dec 2025) | Italy (post-2025) | Ireland FBR | Poland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generational reach | Unlimited (unbroken chain) | Parent or grandparent only | Grandparent only | Unlimited (pre-1920 chain) |
| EU / Schengen access | Visa-free (ETIAS) | Full EU citizenship | Full EU citizenship | Full EU citizenship |
| Visa-free destinations | ~185 | ~190 | ~190 | ~188 |
| Processing time | 6-18 months | 12-36 months | 9-18 months | 12-24 months |
| Typical legal fee (Liberty Mundo) | US$6,500 | US$6.5-15k | US$4,500 | US$5,500 |
| Substantial-connection / residence test | 1,095 days (post-Dec 2025 births only) | 2 years if ancestor naturalised | None | None |
| Dual citizenship | Permitted | Permitted | Permitted | Permitted |
| Approximate new-eligibility pool post-reform | Millions of Americans | Reduced | Stable | Stable |
Canada’s December 2025 Bill C-3 expansion makes it the most generous major descent route in the world for pre-15-December-2025 births — unlimited generational reach, relatively fast processing, and a Tier-1 G7 passport. Italy and Ireland remain the standout routes for clients prioritising EU citizenship specifically (Canada’s passport does not grant EU rights). Poland and Lithuania offer similar unlimited-generational reach plus EU membership, but require a more complex pre-1920 / pre-1940 documentation trail than Canada’s post-Confederation records. For any American with Canadian ancestry, Bill C-3 is probably the fastest and cleanest second-passport route available.
How the Canadian citizenship process runs
Three stages: Bill C-3 eligibility analysis; document retrieval and IRCC Proof of Citizenship filing; Canadian passport application.
Eligibility and application pack
We confirm you qualify for the program, then gather your documents and assemble the complete application pack.
Document retrieval and Proof of Citizenship filing
Retrieval of ancestral Canadian vital records from Library and Archives Canada, provincial registries, or Quebec's Directeur de l'état civil. Foreign-side vital records and naturalisation records as required. Assembly of the IRCC Proof of Citizenship application (CIT 0001) including all supporting documents establishing the unbroken ancestral chain. Submission to IRCC in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Proof of Citizenship grant and passport issuance
IRCC review, typically 6-18 months. On approval, the Canadian Citizenship Certificate (Proof of Citizenship) is issued. Canadian passport application follows, either through Passport Canada (for in-country applicants) or a Canadian consulate abroad. Biometric enrolment, photo compliance, and guarantor confirmation where required.
Optional add-ons
Typical complex-case work Canadian descent clients request. Priced separately; quoted on request.
Ancestral genealogy research
Where the Canadian ancestral chain is uncertain or gaps exist: professional genealogist engagement for Canadian census records (1851-1931), church registers, land-title histories, and immigration records (Library and Archives Canada, CN1 / CN2 series).
1,095-day substantial-connection evidence pack
For post-15-December-2025 births: full evidentiary compilation of the Canadian parent's physical-presence history — passport stamps, CRA T1 filings, provincial health-card records, employment and education history, utility bills, and residency attestation. Structured to IRCC's published substantial-connection standards.
Quebec-line retrieval
Ancestral records from Quebec's Directeur de l'état civil and historical parish registers (registres paroissiaux), which follow a different framework from common-law provincial registries. Bilingual document handling and translation.
Pre-1947 citizenship-chain repair
For complex pre-1947 Canadian citizenship situations (before the 1947 Citizenship Act, Canadians were British subjects; naturalisation and denaturalisation followed different rules): legal analysis and documentation to establish that the pre-1947 chain remained intact under the law applicable at the time.
US tax-filing catch-up for newly Canadian
For US persons who discover they were always Canadian under Bill C-3: FBAR, FATCA / Form 8938, PFIC analysis, and (where relevant) Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures for prior-year US tax filings. Referred to specialist cross-border tax counsel.
Family transmission and passport issuance
Coordinated Proof of Citizenship and passport applications for the applicant's minor children and spouse (if the spouse also qualifies via their own ancestry). Family-unit processing materially reduces per-person legal cost.
Frequently asked questions
What clients actually ask about Canadian citizenship by descent post-Bill C-3 — the December 2025 reform that materially expanded eligibility.
What is Bill C-3 and when did it take effect?
Bill C-3 (the "Lost Canadians Bill") received royal assent and took effect on 15 December 2025. The Act amended the Citizenship Act to remove the first-generation limit on Canadian citizenship by descent — a limit that the Ontario Superior Court of Justice had ruled unconstitutional in Bjorkquist v. Canada (19 December 2023). Bill C-3 is the government's remedy: replacing the first-generation limit with a two-tier framework distinguishing pre-15-December-2025 births (unlimited generations) from post-15-December-2025 births (1,095-day substantial-connection test).
Am I eligible if my grandparent was Canadian?
Yes, very likely — assuming the Canadian citizenship chain from your grandparent to you has not been formally severed. Born before 15 December 2025: grandparent ancestry is well within the unlimited-generations framework. Born on or after 15 December 2025: your parent (the Canadian grandparent's child) must have accumulated 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada before your birth.
What about great-grandparent or more distant ancestry?
Under Bill C-3, great-grandparent and more distant ancestry is fully recognised for applicants born before 15 December 2025 — provided the chain of Canadian citizenship from the original ancestor to you has not been severed at any intervening generation. This is the single most significant change from the pre-2025 framework, which categorically excluded great-grandparent applicants.
How do 'millions of Americans' qualify?
Canada and the US have deep demographic overlap: approximately one million Canadians emigrated to the US in the early 20th century, and millions of their descendants remain. Pre-Bill-C-3, only the first US-born generation could claim Canadian citizenship. Post-Bill-C-3, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Canadian emigrants are newly eligible — CNN reported in March 2026 that "millions" are now dual citizens by operation of law, with many filing Proof of Citizenship applications as a political hedge.
What is the 1,095-day substantial-connection test?
For children born on or after 15 December 2025, Bill C-3 requires that the Canadian parent (the first-generation-abroad link in the chain) has accumulated 1,095 cumulative days of physical presence in Canada at any time before the child's birth. This is the same three-year test applied to adult naturalisation applicants. The parent's days need not be consecutive; they can be accumulated over any period of the parent's lifetime.
What does the service cost?
Typical Liberty Mundo fees for Canadian descent applications run approximately US$6,500 all-in, covering the Bill C-3 eligibility analysis, document retrieval from Canadian and foreign archives, Proof of Citizenship filing, passport application coordination, and US tax advisory. Complex cases (ancestral-gap genealogy, pre-1947 chain issues, Quebec-line retrieval) may add US$1,500-5,000 via add-on fees.
How long does the Proof of Citizenship take?
IRCC targets 6-12 months for routine PoC applications, but Bill C-3 has substantially increased volume — realistic timelines in 2026 are 12-18 months for straightforward applications, longer for complex ancestral chains. Canadian passport application adds 6-10 weeks after PoC issuance.
Can I visit the UK and EU visa-free?
Yes. Canadian passport holders have visa-free access to the UK (subject to ETA from early 2025), the Schengen Area (subject to ETIAS from late 2026), and most of the developed world. The Canadian passport ranks in the top 10 globally.
Can I keep my US citizenship?
Yes. Both Canada and the US permit dual citizenship without restriction. No renunciation is required at any stage. US persons should, however, be aware that Canadian citizenship does not exempt them from US tax-filing obligations (the US taxes on citizenship, not residency — the only country in the world that does). Ongoing US tax filing, FBAR, and FATCA compliance continue to apply.
Will I pay Canadian tax?
Canadian citizenship does not by itself create Canadian tax residency. You are only subject to Canadian tax if you become a factual Canadian tax resident (generally: 183+ days in Canada in a year, or primary residential ties such as a Canadian home, spouse, or dependents). Canadian citizens living abroad who have genuinely severed Canadian residency pay no Canadian income tax on foreign-source income.
Does Canada give me EU access?
No — Canada is not an EU member state. Canadian citizens enjoy Schengen visa-free access (90 days in 180, via ETIAS from late 2026) but do not acquire EU citizenship rights. For EU mobility specifically, Italian, Irish, Polish, Lithuanian, or other EU descent routes remain the correct answer.
How does Canada compare to Italy, Ireland, or Poland for descent?
Canada post-Bill-C-3 has the most generous generational reach of any major country (unlimited for pre-15-December-2025 births). Italy (post-DL 36/2025) and Ireland are both capped at grandparent. Poland and Lithuania offer unlimited reach via pre-1920 / pre-1940 chains but require more complex documentation. For EU citizenship specifically, Italy / Ireland / Poland / Lithuania; for Commonwealth / G7 passport at the widest generational reach, Canada.
Ready to check your Canadian citizenship eligibility?
Bill C-3 of 15 December 2025 made millions of Americans, Britons, and Australians newly eligible for Canadian citizenship by descent. If you have any Canadian ancestor — grandparent, great-grandparent, or more distant — and you were born before 15 December 2025, you are very likely a Canadian citizen already and simply need Proof of Citizenship. Submit an application and a senior advisor will come back within twenty-four hours with a personalised eligibility analysis under Bill C-3, a recommended document-retrieval plan, and a candid view on whether Canadian descent is your best route — or whether Italian, Irish, or Polish descent better matches your ancestral profile and mobility goals.
Sources and references
- Bill C-3 (the “Lost Canadians Bill”), royal assent 15 December 2025 — amended the Citizenship Act to remove the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent and introduce the 1,095-day substantial-connection test for post-cutover births.
- Citizenship Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-29), as amended by Bill C-3 (2025) — foundational statutory framework for Canadian citizenship.
- Bjorkquist v. Canada (Attorney General), 2023 ONSC 7152 — Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruling of 19 December 2023 that the first-generation limit was unconstitutional under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), canada.ca — federal administrative authority for Proof of Citizenship applications (Form CIT 0001).
- Library and Archives Canada (LAC), library-archives.canada.ca — primary source for Canadian ancestral vital records, census data (1851-1931), and immigration records.
- Proof of Citizenship (CIT 0001) Instruction Guide — IRCC published guidance governing the certificate by which existing-by-descent Canadians obtain documentary proof.
- Bill C-3 Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) Cost Estimate (2024) — contextual analysis of reform impact on applicant volume.
- Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Section 15 (equality rights) — constitutional basis for the Bjorkquist ruling.