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Thousands of people with Canadian roots could benefit from recent changes to Canada's Citizenship Act. The federal government modified the rules that determine who can obtain citizenship by descent, expanding access for children, grandchildren, and subsequent generations of Canadian citizens born outside the country.
The reform, approved through Bill C-3 and in effect since December 15, 2025, seeks to correct restrictions that for years limited access to Canadian nationality for families established abroad.
¿Qué cambió en la ley de ciudadanía de Canadá?
Before the new legislation came into effect, citizenship by descent was subject to the so-called "first-generation limit." This meant that a person born outside of Canada could obtain Canadian citizenship if one of their parents was born in Canada or had naturalized as a Canadian citizen. However, that person's children, if also born abroad, generally could no longer inherit citizenship.
With Bill C-3, the Canadian government removed that limitation in certain circumstances, allowing second-generation or subsequent generations born outside the country to also be considered Canadian citizens. The measure responds, in part, to court challenges that deemed some previous restrictions unconstitutional.
¿Cómo se cuentan las generaciones?
Canada's immigration authorities establish a clear classification to determine eligibility:
Canadian citizen: A person born in Canada or who obtained citizenship through naturalization.
First generation born abroad: Child of a Canadian citizen born or naturalized in Canada.
Second generation or later: Descendants who were also born outside Canada to a citizen belonging to the first generation born abroad.
This same criterion also applies in certain cases of international adoptions linked to Canadian citizens.
¿Quiénes pueden ser elegibles a partir de las nuevas reglas?
For people born or adopted outside Canada after December 15, 2025, citizenship can be recognized if two main requirements are met:
That one of the parents was also born or adopted outside of Canada by a Canadian citizen.
That said parent has accumulated at least 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada before the birth or adoption of the child.
In other words, a person could be eligible even if they belong to the second generation born outside of Canada, provided there is a real and verifiable connection to the country through their parent's previous residence.
¿Qué ocurre con quienes nacieron antes de diciembre de 2025?
One of the most relevant aspects of the reform is that many people born before December 15, 2025, may have automatically obtained or recovered Canadian citizenship thanks to the legislative changes. According to the Canadian government, in most cases, a person born outside of Canada to a Canadian parent can be considered a citizen automatically under the new provisions.
The rule may also benefit people whose parents obtained citizenship as a result of these legal modifications. In certain situations, citizenship is recognized automatically without the need to first undergo a naturalization process.
¿Cómo saber con certeza si eres ciudadano canadiense?
Although a person may believe they meet the new requirements, the government recommends applying for a Canadian citizenship certificate. This document is the official proof that one possesses citizenship and allows for various procedures to be carried out with Canadian authorities.
During the process, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reviews the submitted documentation to confirm if the applicant is indeed a citizen. If so, the corresponding certificate is issued as official evidence of immigration status.
Ventajas de obtener la ciudadanía canadiense
Having Canadian citizenship offers multiple benefits. Among them:
Right to apply for a Canadian passport.
Ability to live, work, and study in Canada without immigration restrictions.
Access to political rights, including participation in federal, provincial, and municipal elections when applicable.
Access to government services and programs reserved for citizens.
Ease of passing on citizenship to future generations in accordance with current rules.
Additionally, the government recommends that those who believe they are entitled to citizenship first process their certificate and subsequently apply for a Canadian passport before traveling to the country to avoid delays or inconveniences at border controls.
¿Qué pasa si ya habías iniciado un trámite?
The government of Canada reported that people who submitted applications under temporary measures implemented after a court ruling issued in Ontario do not need to start a new process. Immigration authorities will review those applications using the updated rules established in Bill C-3.
The reform represents one of the most significant changes regarding Canadian citizenship in recent years. Thanks to the partial elimination of the first-generation limit, thousands of people with Canadian parents or grandparents could discover that they have the right to obtain citizenship or even that they are already citizens according to current legislation. For those with family ties to Canada, reviewing their status and applying for a citizenship certificate could be the first step to officially accessing one of the world's most valued passports.
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