The Next Passport
Canadian Citizenship by Descent
Research hub for Canadian citizenship by descent. Bill C-3 removed the first-generation limit, opening multi-generational claims for hundreds of thousands of people with Canadian ancestry.
The Next Passport is not affiliated with the Government of Canada or IRCC. Content is informational only and is not legal advice.
Not sure if you qualify?
Our free eligibility check takes 2 minutes and tells you if you may be eligible for Canadian citizenship by descent.
Check your eligibility →What Changed with Bill C-3
Before Bill C-3, Canadian citizenship by descent was limited to the first generation born outside Canada. If your parent was a Canadian citizen born in Canada, you could claim citizenship — but your children could not. Bill C-3 came into force on December 15, 2025, and changed this in two important ways:
Born before December 15, 2025
If you were born before December 15, 2025, there is no generational limit. You may be eligible for Canadian citizenship as long as you can prove an unbroken chain of descent from a Canadian citizen. This retroactive change restored citizenship for an estimated 240,000 Lost Canadians — many of whom had become US citizens and lost their Canadian citizenship under the previous first-generation rule.
Born on or after December 15, 2025
If you were born on or after December 15, 2025, multi-generational citizenship by descent requires that your Canadian parent accumulated at least 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada before your birth. This ensures a substantial connection to Canada for future generations.
Bjorkquist v. Canada (2023)
The Federal Court ruled in Bjorkquist v. Canada (2023) that the first-generation limit violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This landmark decision prompted Parliament to draft and pass Bill C-3, which replaced the generational cutoff with the physical-presence requirement for future generations.
What You'll Need
Canadian citizenship by descent applications are handled by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Here is an overview of the process:
Forms
CIT 0001 (Application for a Citizenship Certificate for Adults) is the primary form. CIT 0014 (Use of a Representative) may be required if someone is filing on your behalf.
Fee
The government processing fee is $75 CAD per adult applicant. Fees are subject to change — confirm the current amount on the IRCC website before submitting.
Processing Time
As of early 2026, IRCC processing times for citizenship certificates may be approximately 11 months. Times vary and can change — check the IRCC website for current estimates.
Where to Submit
Completed applications are mailed to the IRCC Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia. The exact mailing address is provided on the CIT 0001 instruction guide.
Application Guides
Detailed guides for specific Canadian citizenship by descent scenarios. Each guide covers eligibility requirements, required documents, and step-by-step instructions.
Tools & Calculators
Other Countries We Support
The Next Passport also helps with citizenship by descent for other countries.
Italian Citizenship by Descent
Irish Citizenship by DescentThe Next Passport is not affiliated with the Government of Canada, IRCC, or any immigration attorney. Content is informational only and is not legal advice. Verify all details with the official IRCC website before submitting documents.