A new law expands Canadian citizenship eligibility, i.e., with the coming into force of Bill C-3 on December 15, 2025, many people who were previously unable to claim Canadian citizenship are now eligible. These individuals are often called “lost Canadians.” At the same time, the federal government removed its former “Am I a Canadian?” online checker.
To fill this gap, CanadaVisa has launched a new online tool that helps people assess whether they may qualify for Canadian citizenship by descent under the updated law.
The CanadaVisa tool allows individuals to enter details about their family history. Based on the information provided, the tool indicates whether the situation described may qualify for Canadian citizenship under Bill C-3.
People are more likely to qualify if at least one parent, or even one grandparent, was a Canadian citizen at the time of the person’s birth or adoption.
If eligibility is confirmed, the next step is to apply to the Canadian federal government for proof of citizenship. After receiving proof of citizenship, an individual can then apply for a Canadian passport.
Canadian citizens have the right to enter and live in Canada, vote in elections, and run for public office.
What Changed Under Bill C-3?
Bill C-3 made important changes to Canada’s Citizenship Act, especially for citizenship by descent. Citizenship by descent applies to children born or adopted outside Canada to Canadian parents. This is different from birthright citizenship, which applies to children born inside Canada.
From April 17, 2009, to December 14, 2025, Canada applied a rule called the first-generation limit (FGL). Under this rule, only the first generation born outside Canada could receive citizenship by descent.
Because of this limit, children born abroad to parents who were also citizens by descent could not become Canadian citizens. Many people affected by this rule were referred to as “lost Canadians.”
When Bill C-3 came into force on December 15, 2025, it automatically granted citizenship to lost Canadians who were born before that date and were previously blocked by the first-generation limit.
Rules For Children Born After December 15, 2025
For children born or adopted on or after December 15, 2025, the law introduces a new requirement. Children of Canadian citizens by descent can still receive citizenship, but only if the Canadian parent meets a substantial connection to Canada test.
This test requires the parent to have spent at least 1,095 days in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption.
Applying For Proof Of Citizenship
Most people must apply online for proof of Canadian citizenship. The application must include documents showing eligibility, along with a $75 application fee.
At the time of writing, the processing time for proof of citizenship applications is about nine months.
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