The Next Passport
Parent Path · 2 generationsCanadian Citizenship Through Your Parent
This page is informational, not legal advice. It describes Canadian citizenship law in general terms, citing publicly available legislation and government sources. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed Canadian immigration lawyer.
If your parent is a Canadian citizen — whether by birth in Canada or by descent — you may have inherited Canadian citizenship at birth. This is the most direct form of Canadian citizenship by descent: a one-link chain from a Canadian parent to you.
The legal basis is Section 3(1)(b) of the Citizenship Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-29): a person is a citizen if born outside Canada after February 14, 1977, if at the time of birth one of their parents — other than an adoptive parent — was a Canadian citizen. This transmission is automatic at birth — you are a citizen, but you need a Citizenship Certificate to prove it.
Was your parent born in Canada or outside Canada?
Parent born in Canada: Your parent is a Canadian citizen by birth. Citizenship transmits to you automatically under Section 3(1)(b) regardless of where you were born. No first-generation limit applies because your parent is a first-generation Canadian citizen — not a citizen by descent.
Parent born outside Canada (parent is a citizen by descent): Before Bill C-3, the first-generation limit blocked this path — your parent could hold citizenship by descent, but could not pass it to you if you were also born outside Canada. Bill C-3 (in force December 15, 2025) removed this limit for anyone born before December 15, 2025. If you were born before that date, citizenship may now transmit to you.
Legal basis
- Primary law
- Citizenship Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-29), Section 3(1)(b) — citizenship by birth to a Canadian citizen parent.
- First-generation limit repeal
- Bill C-3 (Royal Assent November 20, 2025, in force December 15, 2025) — removed the limit for persons born before December 15, 2025.
- Authority
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
- Application form
- CIT 0001 — Application for a Citizenship Certificate
- Processing time
- approximately 10 months from IRCC receipt
- Government fee
- $75 CAD per adult applicant
Check your eligibility
The free eligibility check confirms whether your parent's citizenship and birth circumstances qualify you for a Citizenship Certificate.
Check your eligibility →Documents you'll need
Based on IRCC's standard requirements for proof of citizenship by descent.
- Your long-form birth certificate showing your parent's name
- Your parent's Canadian birth certificate (if born in Canada) or Citizenship Certificate (if citizen by descent)
- Your parent's marriage certificate (if your surname differs from the citizenship record)
- Application for a Citizenship Certificate (CIT 0001)
- Document Checklist (CIT 0014)
- Two Canadian citizenship photos meeting IRCC specifications
- $75 CAD processing fee
Ready to map out your specific application?
Start your free eligibility check →Not legal advice. This page describes Canadian citizenship law in general terms based on publicly available legislation and government sources. Canadian law can change and IRCC interpretations vary. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed Canadian immigration lawyer. As of .