Canada is set to overhaul its citizenship laws, aimed at making them fairer for families whose children are born or adopted outside the country. This change is expected to benefit thousands of Indian-origin families who were earlier affected by restrictive rules. The reform comes through Bill C-3, which has already received royal assent. The government will now decide when the law officially comes into force.
Why Canada needed to change its citizenship law
Canada’s original Citizenship Act of 1947 created problems for many people who either lost their citizenship or were never recognised as citizens. Over time, this group came to be known as “lost Canadians”.
A major issue was the first-generation limit introduced in 2009. Under this rule, a Canadian citizen born outside the country could not automatically pass citizenship to their child if the child was also born abroad.
Although changes in 2009 and 2015 helped some people regain or obtain citizenship, many families remained excluded. In December 2023, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled that key parts of this law were unconstitutional. The federal government accepted the ruling and admitted the law caused “unacceptable outcomes” for families of Canadians born overseas.
What Bill C-3 changes
Bill C-3 aims to correct these long-standing issues by creating a clearer and fairer system.
The new legislation will allow children born or adopted outside Canada to receive citizenship even if their Canadian parent was also born abroad, as long as the parent can show a meaningful connection to Canada.
“A Canadian parent born or adopted abroad will be able to pass citizenship on to their child born or adopted outside Canada on or after the date the bill comes into force, provided they have a substantial connection to Canada,” the IRCC said in a statement.
A substantial connection means the parent must have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 cumulative days before the child’s birth or adoption.
“This approach supports fairness for families while reinforcing the principle that real, demonstrated ties to Canada guide citizenship by descent,” the IRCC added.
The government also noted that the amended law will make the Citizenship Act “more inclusive, while maintaining the value of Canadian citizenship.”
How this benefits Indian families
Many Canadian citizens of Indian origin live and work abroad and often have children in other countries. Under the old system, their children were denied Canadian citizenship simply because both parent and child were born outside Canada.
Bill C-3 corrects this by allowing such families to pass on their citizenship, provided they meet the residency condition. This opens the door for thousands of Indian-origin families to secure legal status and long-term rights for their children.
When will the new law apply?
Although Bill C-3 has been approved, it is not yet active. A Canadian court has extended the government’s deadline to implement the legislation until January 2026. Until then, immigration authorities will finalise the process and prepare systems for new applications.
Legal experts expect a surge in citizenship applications once the law is in force.
What leaders and advocates are saying
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the changes will fix deep flaws in the system.
“Bill C-3 will fix long-standing issues in our citizenship laws and bring fairness to families with children born or adopted abroad. It will provide citizenship to people who were excluded by previous laws, and it will set clear rules for the future that reflect how modern families live. These changes will strengthen and protect Canadian citizenship.”
Don Chapman, founder of the Lost Canadians movement, welcomed the move.
“By updating the Citizenship Act to reflect the global mobility of modern Canadian families, the federal government has made access to citizenship more fair and reasonable. I applaud the efforts of all who supported Bill C-3, and the federal government for doing the right thing for Canadians who lost their citizenship because of an outdated law.”
The Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association also supported the reform, calling the earlier system discriminatory.
“The second-generation cut-off created an unfair, second-class citizenship for Canadians born abroad. It discriminated based on national origin and forced many women to relocate to Canada just to give birth. Bill C-3 finally removes this unconstitutional barrier,” it said.
A more inclusive system going forward
Bill C-3 signals a shift towards recognising the reality of globally mobile families. By easing restrictions and focusing on genuine ties to Canada, the country is updating its citizenship framework for a modern world.
For Indian-origin Canadians living overseas, this change offers clarity, inclusion and a long-awaited chance to pass on citizenship to their children without unnecessary legal barriers.
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