Canada’s citizenship-by-descent rules changed in a major way after Bill C-3 took effect on December 15, 2025. For many families, that opened the door for children and grandchildren born outside Canada to claim citizenship. But birth date now matters greatly, and some families must also meet a new physical presence test before passing citizenship to the next generation.
Canadian citizenship by descent now reaches further down the family line
Many people have recently discovered they are already Canadian citizens because of changes to the law on citizenship by descent. In practical terms, Bill C-3 removed the old first-generation limit for many families and allowed citizenship claims to pass through a Canadian parent, grandparent, or even an earlier ancestor, as long as the family line remains unbroken.
That has led to an important follow-up question: if you are now recognized as Canadian by descent, can your children and grandchildren benefit too?
The short answer is yes, in many cases. However, the legal result depends heavily on when the child or grandchild was born. The key date is December 15, 2025. People born before that date are treated very differently from those born on or after it.
This is especially relevant for families living in the United States, the United Kingdom, India, the Philippines, and other countries where descendants of Canadians may not have realized they had a claim. If you are reviewing your family history and trying to understand your next steps, it may help to learn more about Canadian citizenship options and determine your eligibility with professional guidance.
If your child or grandchild was born before December 15, 2025
For those born abroad before December 15, 2025, the rules are more generous. If you became Canadian through a parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, or another qualifying ancestor, your children and grandchildren born before that date may also have a claim through that same family line.
In these cases, the parent in the middle does not need to have lived in Canada. The child or grandchild also does not need prior residence in Canada. Instead, each person must prove the family connection with documents showing each generation linking back to the Canadian ancestor.
Usually, this means applying for proof of citizenship rather than applying for permanent residence first. It is not the same as the standard permanent residence process, because the person may already be a citizen under Canadian law.
Why children born after December 15, 2025 face a new test
For children born outside Canada on or after December 15, 2025, the law added a “substantial connection” requirement. This rule applies when the Canadian parent was also born outside Canada and is themselves a citizen by descent.
In that situation, the Canadian parent must show at least 1,095 cumulative days of physical presence in Canada before the child’s birth. That is equal to three years in total, but the days do not need to be continuous.
How the 1,095-day rule works
IRCC allows the parent to count time spent in Canada across different periods of life. For example, time in Canada could include work, study, extended family visits, or living in Canada for longer stretches. What matters is that the total reaches 1,095 days before the baby is born.
This means some future parents may decide to spend time in Canada first in order to protect their child’s citizenship eligibility. For some families, that may involve entering Canada as citizens and settling temporarily or permanently in cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, or Winnipeg.
For others, it may fit into a broader immigration plan involving work or study. Someone who wants to build a stronger connection to Canada may also wish to explore work permit pathways or review study in Canada options for younger family members, depending on their circumstances.
What this means for grandchildren
If your adult child is a Canadian citizen by descent and has a baby outside Canada after December 15, 2025, that baby will not automatically qualify unless the parent already met the 1,095-day physical presence requirement before the birth.
There is another important point. If the child is born in Canada, citizenship by birth generally applies regardless of the parents’ status, except in limited cases such as children of accredited foreign diplomats. So, for some families, having the child born in Canada may solve the issue entirely.
What families can do if the new requirement is not met
Not every family will be able to meet the new rule in time. Many people only learned about their own citizenship status after the law changed, which means they may not have had a chance to spend enough time in Canada before their child was born.
That does not mean the child has no future path to Canada.
Sponsoring a child for permanent residence
If a child does not qualify for citizenship by descent, their Canadian parent may still sponsor them for permanent residence. This can allow the child to move to Canada and later become a citizen through the regular grant process.
To sponsor a dependent child, the sponsoring parent must generally be at least 18 years old and be a Canadian citizen. Canadian citizens living abroad can often still sponsor, provided they show they plan to return to Canada when the child becomes a permanent resident. The child must also meet the definition of a dependent.
For many families, this route becomes the practical backup plan. It is different from economic immigration streams such as Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program, or the Atlantic Immigration Program, because it is based on family sponsorship rather than work experience, language test scores, or education.
Citizenship after permanent residence
Once the child becomes a permanent resident, the next step depends on age. A minor with a Canadian parent may be able to apply for citizenship more quickly under special rules for children. Older dependent children may need to meet the usual citizenship requirements, including physical presence in Canada and, in some cases, the citizenship test and oath.
This is why families should plan early. In some cases, a direct citizenship claim is possible. In others, the better route may be a sponsorship strategy followed by permanent residence and later citizenship.
How IRCC checks proof of physical presence and family links
IRCC has updated its proof of citizenship process to reflect these newer rules. For children born abroad after December 15, 2025, the application package now focuses much more closely on proving the Canadian parent’s days in Canada.
What evidence may be accepted
Applicants may need to provide records from several parts of their life in Canada. Evidence can include:
- employment records or school documents, such as T4 slips and transcripts;
- travel records, including passport stamps and entry or exit history;
- housing records, such as leases, insurance papers, or mortgage documents;
- government records from federal, provincial, or municipal sources;
- sworn affidavits from organizations or individuals with direct knowledge of the parent’s time in Canada.
IRCC may examine the timeline closely and ask for supporting details. Families should not assume that a rough estimate of time in Canada will be enough. The burden is on the applicant to show the required number of days with credible records.
Why preparation matters
If your family may rely on time already spent in Canada, it is wise to begin gathering records now. Old tax slips, school registration papers, travel history, tenancy records, and similar documents can become very important later.
Families should also remember that citizenship issues can overlap with other immigration planning. Some people who do not qualify directly for citizenship may still have strong options through work, study, or economic immigration. Depending on your profile, it may be helpful to explore your Canadian immigration options and review broader Canadian immigration news and guidance while deciding on the best path.
Canadian immigration law can be life-changing, but it can also be technical. A family’s outcome may turn on one birth date, one missing record, or one misunderstood rule about descent, sponsorship, or residence.
Immigration rules and citizenship requirements can change quickly, so readers should always confirm current information with IRCC or speak with a licensed immigration consultant before making decisions. EverNorth Immigration is here to help with experienced, professional support at every stage of your journey toward a new life in Canada, and you are welcome to book your free immigration assessment for a professional evaluation of your options.
