Canada has officially passed Bill C-3, an important update to the Citizenship Act that restores or grants Canadian citizenship to people known as “Lost Canadians,” who were excluded under an old rule called the First-Generation Limit (FGL).
Bill C-3 received Royal Assent on November 20, 2025, and came into effect on December 15, 2025. Eligible individuals can now apply for proof of Canadian citizenship if they became citizens automatically under the new law.
One of the most important changes under Bill C-3 is that Canadian citizenship can now be granted across multiple generations, not just one. This means citizenship may be traced through a parent, grant parent or even great-grandparent.
If you qualify, you are not asking Canada to give you citizenship, instead you are applying for proof of citizenship to confirm a status the law now recognizes.
Who Are “Lost Canadians” and What Is The FGL?
“Lost Canadians” are individuals who were denied or never obtained Canadian citizenship because of rules in earlier versions of the Citizenship Act, even though they had a Canadian parent or Canadian ancestry.
A major reason for this exclusion was the first-generation limit (FGL), introduced in 2009.
Under the FGL:
- If you were born outside Canada, you could only be a Canadian citizen if your parent was born in Canada or later became Canadian.
- If your parent was also born outside Canada, they could not pass citizenship to you, even if yourgrandparents were Canadian.
As a result, Canadian citizenship stopped after one generation born abroad, cutting off children and grandchildren from obtaining Canadian citizenship.
In 2023, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled this unfair and unconstitutional, which led to the creation of Bill C-3.
How Bill C-3 Changes Citizenship Rules
Bill C-3 removes the strict generational cut-off that affected many families and allows citizenship to be granted through the family line.
1. Citizenship Is Restored for People Born in the Past
If you were born before December 15, 2025, and were affected by the old rules, Canada may already recognize you as a citizen under the law.
This applies even where multiple generations in your family were born outside Canada
You will need official documentation to apply for confirmation of Canadian status.
2. Clear Rules for Future Children Born Outside Canada
Bill C-3 sets clear rules for children born or adoptedoutside Canada after December 15, 2025.
- If the Canadian parent was born in Canada or later became Canadian, their child will automatically be Canadian.
- If the Canadian parent was also born outside Canada, they must have lived in Canada for a required period before the child’s birth or adoption.
What This Means for Families
For many families, Bill C-3 is a significant shift.
People who were told that citizenship ended with their parents or grandparents can now apply for proof of citizenship, as Canadian citizenship may extend further through their family history.
This change reconnects families across generations.
Can Pilkington Immigration Help?
Working with an immigration lawyer can help ensure your application is prepared correctly from the start, especially when tracing citizenship across multiple generations.
Citizenship claims involve parents, grandparents or great-grandparents can be complicated. Family records may be old, missing, or spread across different countries, and even small gaps or errors can lead to delays or refusals.
Pilkington Immigration can help by:
- Reviewing your family history
- Identifying whether citizenship is applicable across generations
- Helping gather and organize the required documents
- Preparing a clear and complete application for submission
Our approach is practical, thorough and focused. If you believe Bill C-3 may apply to you or your family, the first step is understanding where you stand.
Contact Pilkington Immigration for a consultation and receive clear guidance on your Canadian citizen options.
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025) comes into effect. Government of Canada.https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2025/12/bill-c-3-an-act-to-amend-the-citizenship-act-2025-comes-into-effect.html