Canada has taken a major step toward modernising its citizenship laws, offering long-awaited relief to thousands of Indian-origin families living abroad. The newly approved Bill C-3, which amends the Citizenship Act, has received royal assent and is expected to help people who were previously excluded from passing on Canadian citizenship to their foreign-born children. The legislation marks a major shift toward inclusivity and fairness, especially for families who live or work outside the country but maintain strong ties to Canada.
The bill aims to resolve long-standing concerns arising from the 2009 rule that restricted citizenship by descent to only the first generation. Under that old rule, Canadians born outside Canada could not pass on citizenship to their children unless the child was born in Canada. This resulted in a category of individuals known as lost Canadians, who believed they were entitled to citizenship but were denied due to outdated legal definitions. The Ontario Superior Court declared the restriction unconstitutional in December 2023, leading to the government’s decision to reform the law.
With Bill C-3, Canadian parents born outside Canada will now be able to pass down citizenship to their children born or adopted abroad, provided they demonstrate a substantial connection to Canada. To qualify, the parent must have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 cumulative days, or three years, before the child’s birth or adoption. This requirement mirrors the residency rule needed for naturalisation and allows families who have moved between countries for education, employment, or personal reasons to retain their citizenship rights.
The changes are particularly significant for India-born Canadians and other immigrant communities that often travel or work overseas, yet continue to identify strongly with Canada. The bill restores fairness for thousands of families who were previously disadvantaged simply because of their birthplace. The legislation is not yet in effect, as the federal cabinet must fix the official implementation date. However, the government has signalled urgency in activating the new rules, as a court has already extended the deadline for full enforcement until January 2026, giving the IRCC time to complete the administrative process.
