Toronto, November 24: Canada has taken a major step toward revising its citizenship-by-descent rules, with Bill C-3 receiving royal assent and setting the stage for what the federal government described as a more inclusive and modern framework. The legislation, introduced to amend the Citizenship Act, is expected to benefit thousands of Indian-origin families once it formally comes into force, according to an official release issued Friday.
Officials said the amended law will eventually grant citizenship to individuals who were previously excluded due to restrictions such as the first-generation limit introduced in 2009. The limit prevented children born or adopted abroad from gaining citizenship by descent if their Canadian parent was also born or adopted outside the country. The new law aims to correct that, the government noted.
“Once the new law comes into force, Canadian citizenship will be provided to people born before the bill comes into force, who would have been citizens if not for the first-generation limit or other outdated rules,” the federal statement said.
The government explained that the updated legislation will allow Canadian parents born abroad to pass citizenship onto children born or adopted outside Canada, subject to proof of substantial connection to the country. Officials noted the reform will balance inclusivity while maintaining the integrity and responsibilities attached to citizenship.
Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the bill responds to long-standing inequities. “Bill C-3 will fix long-standing issues in our citizenship laws and bring fairness to families with children born or adopted abroad,” she said. “These changes will strengthen and protect Canadian citizenship.”
The government noted this step follows a December 2023 ruling by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice declaring sections of the Citizenship Act unconstitutional. Ottawa did not appeal the judgement, citing adverse outcomes faced by Canadians with children born overseas.
Advocates said the reform acknowledges the changing structure of families and global mobility. Don Chapman, founder of the Lost Canadians group, said the amendments create “more fair and reasonable” access to citizenship.
Although Bill C-3 has cleared a major step with royal assent, the law will take effect only after an order-in-council is issued. Until then, interim measures remain available for those impacted by the previous rules, the government said.
