Canada overhauls citizenship laws, restores rights: What it means for Indians

Fairer Canadian citizenship for families

Canada has taken a landmark step in reforming its citizenship laws with the passage of Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025). The bill received royal assent on November 21, 2025, marking a milestone in making Canadian citizenship more inclusive while maintaining its value.

“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,” said Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab.

Understanding the first-generation limit

The first-generation limit, introduced in 2009, restricted citizenship by descent to children born or adopted abroad only if at least one parent was born or naturalised in Canada. This meant thousands of children of Canadian parents born abroad—including many Indian-origin families—were denied citizenship.

In December 2023, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice declared key aspects of this law unconstitutional, finding it discriminated against Canadians based on place of birth. The federal government did not appeal, acknowledging the law produced unacceptable outcomes.

What Bill C-3 changes

Once it comes into force, Bill C-3 will:

Restore citizenship to adults who would have been Canadian citizens but were excluded by the first-generation limit or other outdated laws.

Grant citizenship to those previously left out due to legislative gaps.

Introduce a “substantial connection test”, allowing Canadian parents born abroad to pass citizenship to their foreign-born children if they can demonstrate meaningful ties to Canada. This test requires 1,095 cumulative days (three years) of physical presence in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption.

The law ensures that Canadian citizenship by descent reflects the realities of modern, globally mobile families, creating a fair and consistent path forward.

What it means for Indian-origin families

Indian-origin Canadians, who often live, study, or work across borders, were among the most affected by the first-generation limit.

Bill C-3:

Allows them to pass citizenship to children born abroad without being penalised for global mobility.

Restores citizenship to relatives previously excluded under old laws.

Removes pressure on expectant parents to return to Canada solely to give birth.

“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,” said Don Chapman, founder of the Lost Canadians Network.

Implementation timeline

Although Bill C-3 has passed, it is not yet in force. The government will announce the effective date through an order in council, expected before January 2026. Until then, an interim measure remains for those affected by the first-generation limit. Immigration experts anticipate a surge in applications once the reforms are operational, signalling a more inclusive future for Canadian citizenship.