Key takeaways
- Bill C-3 came into force on December 15, 2025 and is still in force as of October 2026
- Born abroad before December 15, 2025 to a Canadian parent: most people are now citizens automatically
- Born or adopted abroad on or after December 15, 2025: a parent who was also born abroad needs 1,095 days in Canada before the birth
- Your parent must have been a citizen when you were born; a parent who became Canadian later does not count
- Adopted children are not automatic: the parent applies for a direct grant of citizenship
The rule in one minute
Before December 15, 2025, Canada had a first-generation limit: a child born abroad got citizenship from a Canadian parent only if that parent was born or naturalized in Canada. Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025), changed this. As of October 5, 2026, the law is in force and IRCC is issuing proof of citizenship under it. Read the full explanation in our citizenship by descent guide.
| The Canadian parent was… | Child born abroad before Dec 15, 2025 | Child born abroad on or after Dec 15, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Born in Canada | Citizen | Citizen |
| Naturalized before the birth | Citizen | Citizen |
| Born abroad to a Canadian | Most became citizens automatically | Citizen only if the parent had 1,095 days in Canada before the birth |
| Became Canadian after the birth | Not automatic | Not automatic |
How the checker decides
- Born in Canada? You are a citizen by birth (children of foreign diplomats are the main exception).
- Renounced or revoked? These cases need an individual check with IRCC.
- When did your parent become Canadian? Your parent must have been a citizen when you were born. If not, citizenship does not pass by descent.
- Adopted? Adopted children do not become citizens automatically. The parent applies for a direct grant. For adoptions on or after December 15, 2025 by a parent born or adopted abroad, the 1,095-day test applies.
- Parent born or naturalized in Canada? The child born abroad is a citizen, as before.
- Parent born abroad to a Canadian? Born before December 15, 2025: likely a citizen automatically. Born on or after it: the checker compares the parent’s days in Canada before the birth with 1,095.
Counting the 1,095 days
- The days are cumulative. They do not need to be in a row.
- Only days the parent was physically in Canada count, and only before the child’s birth or adoption.
- 1,095 days is three years. A parent who lived in Canada for 3 years as a student, worker or child usually meets it, if they can prove it.
- Proof can include passports and stamps, school transcripts, tax returns, leases, pay slips and CBSA travel history.
To count days from travel dates, you can use our citizenship days calculator as a day counter. It is built for the citizenship test for permanent residents, so read the totals as a rough count only.
Worked examples
- Ana was born in Portugal in 1998. Her father was born in the United States to a Canadian mother. Before Bill C-3, she was not Canadian. Now she is likely a citizen automatically, and applies for a citizenship certificate as proof.
- Leo was born in the UK in March 2026. His mother was born in Hong Kong to a Canadian father, and lived in Canada for 4 years during university (about 1,460 days). Leo is a citizen, because his mother had more than 1,095 days before his birth.
- Sam was born in Australia in July 2026. His father was born abroad to a Canadian and spent 2 years (about 730 days) in Canada. Sam is not a citizen by descent: his father is about 365 days short.
What to do next
- Apply for a citizenship certificate. This is your proof. The fee is $75 (IRCC fee list, October 2026).
- Collect certified records for each generation: birth certificates naming the parents, marriage and name-change records, and adoption records. Family trees from genealogy websites are not enough.
- Apply for a Canadian passport after you get the certificate. Canadian citizens must use a Canadian passport to fly to Canada.
Check the rules of your other country too: some countries do not allow dual citizenship. If your case is complex (old records, adoption, several generations, renunciation), speak to a licensed lawyer. See lawyer vs immigration consultant.
Common questions
Is Bill C-3 in force?
Yes. It came into force on December 15, 2025, and is still in force as of October 2026. IRCC is issuing citizenship certificates under the new rules.
My grandparent was Canadian. Am I Canadian?
Possibly. If your parent was a Canadian citizen when you were born (for example, born abroad to your Canadian grandparent), and you were born before December 15, 2025, you are likely a citizen automatically under Bill C-3.
Do I have to apply to become a citizen?
No, if you became a citizen automatically. You apply for a citizenship certificate, which is proof that you are already a citizen.
Do the 1,095 days have to be in a row?
No. They are cumulative days of physical presence in Canada, counted before the child’s birth or adoption.
Are adopted children covered?
Not automatically. A Canadian parent applies for a direct grant of citizenship for a child adopted abroad. For adoptions on or after December 15, 2025 by a parent born or adopted abroad, the parent needs 1,095 days in Canada before the adoption.