Bill C-37: citizenship by descent for Lost Canadians
Bill C-37, the Lost Canadians Act, received Royal Assent on April 17, 2008 and came into force on April 17, 2009. It restored citizenship to large groups of people who had lost or never received it under the 1947 and 1977 Citizenship Acts — many of whom are already Canadian citizens today and simply need proof.
What Bill C-37 did
- Restored citizenship to many people who had naturalized in another country before 1947 and lost Canadian status as a result.
- Recognised many people born abroad in the first generation after 1947 as citizens from birth.
- Introduced a first-generation limit: citizenship by descent could pass to only one generation born outside Canada.
The gap Bill C-3 closes
Because Bill C-37 capped descent at the first generation born abroad, the second generation and beyond remained excluded. That is precisely the restriction Bill C-3 removed in December 2025. If your parent was born in Canada, you are likely already a citizen under C-37. If your Canadian ancestor is a grandparent or earlier, Bill C-3 is the relevant pathway.
Next step if you may already be a citizen
You do not apply to 'become' a citizen under Bill C-37 — you apply to IRCC for a citizenship certificate confirming the citizenship you already hold. Once issued, you can apply for a Canadian passport.
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.