{"id":2947,"date":"2025-12-24T15:39:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T15:39:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/north-bay-on\/?p=2947"},"modified":"2026-04-24T15:40:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T15:40:37","slug":"bill-c-3-canadian-citizenship-now-granted-across-multiple-generations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/north-bay-on\/bill-c-3-canadian-citizenship-now-granted-across-multiple-generations\/","title":{"rendered":"Bill C-3: Canadian Citizenship Now Granted Across Multiple Generations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"519\" data-id=\"2952\" src=\"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/north-bay-on\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2025\/12\/bill-c3-canadian-citizenship-multiple-generations.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2952\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/north-bay-on\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2025\/12\/bill-c3-canadian-citizenship-multiple-generations.jpg.jpg 680w, https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/north-bay-on\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2025\/12\/bill-c3-canadian-citizenship-multiple-generations.jpg-480x366.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 680px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Canada has officially passed&nbsp;<strong>Bill C-3<\/strong>, an important update to the Citizenship Act that restores or grants Canadian citizenship to people known as \u201c<strong>Lost Canadians,<\/strong>\u201d who were excluded under an old rule called the<strong>&nbsp;First-Generation Limit (FGL)<\/strong>.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bill C-3 received&nbsp;<strong>Royal Assent<\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>on November 20, 2025,<\/strong>&nbsp;and came into effect on&nbsp;<strong>December 15, 2025.&nbsp;<\/strong>Eligible individuals can now apply for proof of Canadian citizenship if they became citizens automatically under the new law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most important changes under Bill C-3 is that&nbsp;<strong>Canadian citizenship can now be granted across multiple generations<\/strong>, not just one<strong>.&nbsp;<\/strong>This means citizenship may be traced through a&nbsp;<strong>parent, grant parent or even great-grandparent.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you qualify, you are not asking Canada to give you citizenship, instead you are applying for&nbsp;<strong>proof of citizenship<\/strong>&nbsp;to confirm a status the law now recognizes.<a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Who Are \u201cLost Canadians\u201d and What Is The FGL?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLost Canadians\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A major reason for this exclusion was the&nbsp;<strong>first-generation limit (FGL)<\/strong>, introduced in&nbsp;<strong>2009<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under the FGL:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you were born outside Canada, you could only be a Canadian citizen if your parent was born in Canada or later became Canadian.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If your parent was also born outside Canada, they could not pass citizenship to you, even if yourgrandparents were Canadian.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, Canadian citizenship stopped after one generation born abroad, cutting off children and grandchildren from obtaining Canadian citizenship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In&nbsp;<strong>2023<\/strong>, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled this unfair and unconstitutional, which led to the creation of Bill C-3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a><strong>How Bill C-3 Changes Citizenship Rules<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bill C-3 removes the strict generational cut-off that affected many families and allows citizenship to be granted through the family line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>1. Citizenship Is Restored for People Born in the Past<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you were born&nbsp;<strong>before<\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>December 15, 2025<\/strong>, and were affected by the old rules, Canada may already recognize you as a citizen under the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This applies even where multiple generations in your family were born outside Canada<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You will need&nbsp;<strong>official documentation<\/strong>&nbsp;to apply for confirmation of Canadian status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>2. Clear Rules for Future Children Born Outside Canada<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Bill C-3 sets clear rules for children born or adoptedoutside Canada<strong>&nbsp;after December 15, 2025.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If the Canadian parent was born in Canada or later became Canadian, their child will automatically be Canadian.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the Canadian parent was also born outside Canada, they must have lived in Canada for a required period before the child\u2019s birth or adoption.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a><strong>What This Means for Families<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For many families, Bill C-3 is a significant shift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This change reconnects families across generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a><strong>Can Pilkington Immigration Help?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a><\/a>Working with an immigration lawyer can help ensure your application is prepared correctly from the start, especially when tracing citizenship across multiple generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Citizenship claims involve parents, grandparents or great-grandparents<a><\/a>&nbsp;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Pilkington Immigration can help by:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reviewing your family history<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Identifying whether citizenship is applicable across generations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Helping gather and organize the required documents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Preparing a clear and complete application for submission<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Contact&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:office@pilkingtonimmigration.com\">Pilkington Immigration<\/a>&nbsp;for a consultation and receive clear guidance on your Canadian citizen options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source:&nbsp;<\/strong>Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).<em>Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025) comes into effect.<\/em>&nbsp;Government of Canada.<a href=\"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?euidtkncn=vjJ97SOrejV0LiQ\">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<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/contact-us\/\"><strong>Contact us<\/strong><\/a> <strong>today to book a consultation and find out more!<\/strong><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; Canada has officially passed&nbsp;Bill C-3, an important update to the Citizenship Act that restores or grants Canadian citizenship to people known as \u201cLost Canadians,\u201d who were excluded under an old rule called the&nbsp;First-Generation Limit (FGL). Bill C-3 received&nbsp;Royal Assent&nbsp;on November 20, 2025,&nbsp;and came into effect on&nbsp;December 15, 2025.&nbsp;Eligible individuals can now apply for proof [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1677\" src=\"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2023\/04\/PGWP-300x251-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"251\" \/>\n\nAs of April 6, 2023, those who are currently or formerly on a Post- Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) could be eligible for an 18 month Open Work Permit. Those who wish to apply will have until December 31, 2023.\n\nThe benefit for this Open Work Permit is that it grants the individual the ability to work any job and for any employer in Canada for up to 18 additional months.\n\nAs per IRCC, eligible candidates will be able to:\n<ul>\n \t<li>opt into a simplified process to extend their work permit, or<\/li>\n \t<li>apply to extend their work permit, or<\/li>\n \t<li>apply to restore their status and get a new work permit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nEven if a candidate is not eligible to opt in, they can still apply for a work permit.\n\nSee <a href=\"https:\/\/t.sidekickopen60.com\/s3t\/c\/5\/f18dQhb0V1-gmb8cp8kBW25MZTD59hl3kW7_k2841CX6NGW35QNyY2PynM_W7vZ0Py8kpgz-f197v5Y04?te=W3R5hFj4cm2zwW4mKLS-3F4FzJW3H34sw3yML2qW1Lyz5B3S-qPyW4fJg0T1GHbGRW4hFZJc4cfK-XW4fJg-S41Y76NW45lYRp49SzG1W3K96C743WgprW3F4FzJ3H34yvW3K8Qz94ff6B5W4cQ9YB49HRfrW3zhs7S41p1cXW49MW8W3K8Qz9W4fdgXX3ZTPLWw4cg7Ws9x12&amp;si=8000000016645336&amp;pi=1b369650-4437-45f0-83d7-642df18d96a2\">IRCC website<\/a> for more information on this opportunity.\n\nIRCC has emailed those who may be eligible for the process to extend their work permit. The message comes from an email that ends in @cic.gc.ca or @notifications.canada.ca. IRCC notes that such individuals must take action before May 20, 2023 and apply before their work permit expires.\n\nTo be eligible for the simplified process, you must:\n\n1)\u00a0Reside in Canada\n\n2)\u00a0Log into your\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/t.sidekickopen60.com\/s3t\/c\/5\/f18dQhb0V1-gmb8cp8kBW25MZTD59hl3kW7_k2841CX6NGW35QNyY2PynM_W7vZ0Py8kpgz-f197v5Y04?te=W3R5hFj4cm2zwW4mKLS-3F4FzJW3H34sw3yML2qW1Lyz5B3S-qPyW4fJg0T1GHbGRW4hFZJc4cfK-XW4fJg-S41Y76NW45lYRp49SzG1W3K96BL45S_3cW3F4G5h43TwfrW3F5tD341Yswq4S6TW1&amp;si=8000000016645336&amp;pi=1b369650-4437-45f0-83d7-642df18d96a2\">IRCC Secure Account<\/a>\u00a0to:\n<ul>\n \t<li>ensure that your mailing address is up to date<\/li>\n \t<li>confirm your passport information is up to date and has an expiration date of June 2025 or later, and<\/li>\n \t<li>opt in for up to an additional 18 months<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIf you do not have an account, you will need to register for an IRCC Secure Account and link your most recent PGWP application to your account before May 20, 2023.\n\nAbout the Open Work Permit extension:\n\nRecently, Canada\u2019s Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser announced that the IRCC would enable those who are eligible as former or current PGWP holders access to a new Open Work Permit.\n\nTypically a PGWP is non-renewable, and those with an expiring PGWP would have to find another way to remain in the country or leave. However, Fraser indicated the purpose of this initiative will help employers in Canada address their labour shortages and provide PGWP holders time to potentially consider permanent residency. PGWPs allow eligible international graduates to work for up to 3 years after they complete their studies in the country. The ultimate length of the PGWP depends on the length of the completed program of study. \u00a0PGWPs are of high interest as they allow graduates to build their eligibility for permanent residency.\n\nMajority of Canada\u2019s economic class immigration programs reward candidates who have Canadian work experience since Stats Canada shows the experience supports the labour market integration upon gaining permanent residence. This shows why Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program, and other economic class pathways provide more points and or dedicated streams to those with experience in Canada. In 2022, Canada hosted a record 800,000 international students. Nearly 98,000 PGWP holders transitioned to permanent residence last year, accounting for over 80% of all temporary residents who transitioned to PR.\n\nWhen this announcement was made, IRCC suggested there were over 286,000 PGWP holders in Canada at the end of 2022. The department estimates nearly 127,000 PGWPs will expire in 2023. However approximately 67,000 PGWP holders have already applied for PR, and would not need to apply for a new Open Work Permit.","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news-events"],"aioseo_notices":[],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"Staff","author_link":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/north-bay-on\/author\/brian\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/north-bay-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2947","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/north-bay-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/north-bay-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/north-bay-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/north-bay-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2947"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/north-bay-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2947\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2955,"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/north-bay-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2947\/revisions\/2955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/north-bay-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/north-bay-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/north-bay-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}