Bill C-3: restoring lost Canadian citizenship
Bill C-3, the Citizenship Restoration Act, came into force on December 15, 2025. It removes the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent and retroactively restores citizenship to Lost Canadians who were excluded by historical provisions of the 1947 and 1977 Citizenship Acts.
What Bill C-3 changes
- Removes the first-generation limit introduced in 1977, so citizenship can cascade through grandparents, great-grandparents, and earlier ancestors where a substantial-connection test is met.
- Retroactively reverses the pre-1947 marriage rule, under which Canadian women lost citizenship by marrying a non-Canadian or non-British subject — and extends that restoration to their descendants.
- Removes the age-28 retention requirement that stripped citizenship from second-generation people born abroad under the 1977 Act.
- Cleans up several other Lost Canadian categories created by quirks in earlier legislation.
Who may qualify
- You have a parent who was born in Canada or naturalized as a Canadian.
- You have a grandparent, great-grandparent, or earlier ancestor born in Canada, and your line was previously cut off by the first-generation limit.
- A female ancestor lost Canadian citizenship by marrying a non-Canadian before 1947.
- You or a parent lost citizenship by failing the age-28 retention requirement.
- You were adopted by a Canadian citizen.
How to confirm restored citizenship
The standard route is to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for a proof-of-citizenship certificate. You support the application with birth, marriage, naturalization, and immigration records that establish an unbroken chain of descent from your Canadian ancestor.
Processing typically takes 5–12 months for straightforward cases and longer for complex multi-generational claims. As of 2026, the IRCC processing fee for an adult citizenship certificate is approximately CAD $75; legal fees and the cost of obtaining vital records are additional.
Deadlines and dual citizenship
There is currently no deadline to apply under Bill C-3. Because the legislation is retroactive, you may already have been a citizen without knowing it. Canada fully permits dual and multiple citizenship, so a successful claim does not require renouncing another nationality.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bill C-3 the same as Bill C-37?
No. Bill C-37 (2009) was an earlier piece of legislation that restored citizenship to some Lost Canadians but only extended it to the first generation born abroad. Bill C-3 goes further by removing the first-generation limit and addressing additional groups that C-37 missed, including those affected by the marriage rule and the retention requirement.
Do I need to move to Canada to claim citizenship?
No. You do not need to live in Canada or move to Canada to apply for or hold Canadian citizenship. Millions of Canadian citizens live abroad. Once you have your citizenship certificate, you can apply for a Canadian passport and enjoy all the benefits of citizenship regardless of where you live.
Will claiming Canadian citizenship affect my current citizenship?
Canada fully allows dual (or multiple) citizenship. Claiming Canadian citizenship will not require you to give up your current citizenship. However, you should check the laws of your current country of citizenship, as some countries have restrictions on dual nationality.
How far back can ancestry go for Bill C-3?
Bill C-3 allows citizenship to cascade through multiple generations. In theory, if you can trace an unbroken chain of ancestry back to someone who was born in Canada (or was otherwise a Canadian citizen), each generation in that chain is retroactively recognized. However, the further back the connection, the more documentation you'll need and the more complex the case becomes.
What if I'm not sure whether my ancestor was Canadian?
Many people are unsure about their family's citizenship history — and that's completely normal. You can start by gathering whatever documents you have (birth certificates, old passports, family records) and consulting with an immigration lawyer. Our quiz can also help identify whether your situation warrants further investigation.
How long does the process take?
Processing times vary. Standard citizenship certificate applications typically take 5–12 months, though complex historical cases involving Bill C-3 provisions may take longer. Having complete documentation from the start can help speed things up significantly.
Do I need a lawyer?
While simple cases (parent born in Canada) can often be handled without a lawyer, more complex situations — especially those involving Bill C-3's retroactive provisions, multiple generations, or lost citizenship — benefit significantly from professional legal guidance. An immigration lawyer can identify the strongest pathway and ensure your application is properly documented.
Is there a deadline to apply under Bill C-3?
Currently there is no deadline to apply for citizenship under Bill C-3. The legislation restores citizenship retroactively, meaning you may have been a citizen all along without knowing it. However, immigration laws can change, so it's generally advisable to apply sooner rather than later.
What rights do I get as a Canadian citizen?
Canadian citizenship grants you the right to live and work anywhere in Canada, vote in federal and provincial elections, run for political office, access Canada's universal healthcare system (once you establish residency), apply for a Canadian passport (visa-free access to 185+ countries), and pass citizenship to your children.
My mother lost her citizenship when she married my foreign father before 1977. Does Bill C-3 help?
Yes — this is one of the primary situations Bill C-3 was designed to address. Under the 1947 Act, Canadian women automatically lost citizenship when they married non-Canadian men. Bill C-3 retroactively restores their citizenship, and because their citizenship is restored, yours may flow from it by descent.
What documents do I need to apply for a citizenship certificate?
You'll typically need proof of your Canadian ancestor's citizenship or birth in Canada (birth certificate, citizenship certificate, or old passport), documents proving your lineage (birth certificates for each generation), valid government-issued ID, and completed IRCC application forms. Complex cases may require additional historical records such as marriage certificates, immigration landing records, or naturalization documents.
How much does it cost to apply for a citizenship certificate?
As of 2026, the IRCC processing fee for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship) is approximately CAD $75 for adults. If you hire an immigration lawyer, legal fees are additional and vary depending on the complexity of your case. There may also be costs for obtaining supporting documents such as vital records from provincial registries.
Canada Citizen Center is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.