(CANADA) — canada implemented bill C-3 on December 15, 2025, expanding citizenship by descent and lifting the “first-generation limit” that had blocked many people born abroad from claiming Canadian citizenship.
The reform has fed what the report described as “surging demand” for second passports as of January 13, 2026, with attention rising among families who trace their ancestry to Canada and had previously been excluded by the first-generation limit.
Background
Bill C-3, formerly Bill C-71, changes how canada treats citizenship by descent for people born outside the country to Canadian parents and grandparents.
The law shifts a rule that previously cut off citizenship transmission after the first generation born abroad, restoring transmission for many families who had been excluded.
Key facts and requirements of Bill C-3
This section prepares readers for an interactive tool that outlines the bill’s key facts and eligibility requirements; the tool will present structured details and scenarios.
In prose: Bill C-3 restores the right to citizenship for the second and subsequent generations born abroad, a group linked to “Lost Canadians” in the material.
The new framework adds a Substantial Connection Test for passing citizenship to children born abroad after the bill’s implementation, tying ongoing transmission to a Canadian parent’s time spent living in Canada.
To meet that test, the Canadian parent must demonstrate they were physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) at any time prior to the child’s birth or adoption, according to the material.
Automatic recognition and immediate steps
For people born before the law took effect, the report said Bill C-3 brings “Automatic Recognition,” meaning individuals born before December 15, 2025, who would have been citizens if not for the first-generation limit, are now automatically recognized as Canadian citizens.
Those newly recognized citizens can apply for a Proof of Citizenship Certificate immediately, the material said, a step that connects legal status to documentation and enables passport applications.
Demand surge and broader policy context
The report linked growing interest in Canadian citizenship to both the Bill C-3 changes and broader policy shifts in the United States, framing these developments as part of a larger environment prompting people to consider “Plan B” options.
Canadian Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab was quoted as projecting heavier demand, saying applications are expected to number in the “tens of thousands over time,” primarily benefiting children of “Lost Canadians.”
The material contrasted Canadian changes with U.S. policy moves and enforcement actions in early January 2026 that have contributed to interest in alternative citizenships among some U.S. residents.
On January 9, 2026, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced a shift involving the Diversity Visa program, saying, “At President Trump’s direction, I am immediately directing [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services] to pause the DV1 program to ensure no more Americans are harmed by this disastrous program.”
The report also cited comments attributed to Noem on January 4, 2026, tied to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans: “Secretary Noem ended Temporary Protected Status for more than 500,000 Venezuelans and now they can go home to a country that they love. [They] can return to their homeland and apply for refugee status.”
Another action cited was “Operation PARRIS,” described as launched by DHS and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on January 9, 2026, as “a massive initiative in Minnesota to reexamine thousands of refugee cases,” signalling a period of “intensive verification” and stricter enforcement.
The material framed these U.S. developments as part of the environment in which people weigh alternative citizenship pathways, while noting that Canadian eligibility still depends on Canadian law and family facts.
Alongside U.S. policy shifts, the report linked demand to travel and mobility, describing the Canadian passport as one of the world’s strongest and saying it offers visa-free travel to 185+ destinations.
The report also referenced political uncertainty and “policy volatility” as drivers, including the January 1, 2026, Presidential Proclamation limiting entry from 39 countries, and said high-net-worth individuals and Americans with Canadian ancestry have increasingly viewed a second passport as “insurance.”
Practical sequence for applicants
The report suggested a practical sequence applicants might follow when seeking recognition and documentation under Bill C-3.
- Confirm family facts and dates. Verify births, parental status, and any dates around December 15, 2025.
- Gather records for the Substantial Connection Test. Collect evidence showing the Canadian parent’s physical presence in Canada (aiming to show at least 1,095 days where relevant).
- Seek documentation. Apply for a Proof of Citizenship Certificate for those automatically recognized, then proceed to a passport application.
The framing in the material creates two tracks: one where some people are recognized based on past facts and the removal of the first-generation limit, and another where future transmission depends on meeting the Substantial Connection Test.
Official sources and where to find guidance
This section introduces an interactive tool that will display authoritative sources and direct guidance; the tool will present links and step-by-step instructions visually.
In prose, the report pointed readers to official channels for updates and instructions, including the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services newsroom at [uscis.gov/newsroom](https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom), DHS statements at [dhs.gov/news](https://www.dhs.gov/news), and Canadian guidance through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada at [canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/rules-changes.html).
The report also listed the U.S. Department of State travel alerts site at [travel.state.gov](https://travel.state.gov), reflecting how interest in second citizenships can be shaped by both legal eligibility and travel planning considerations.
Overall assessment
Taken together, the report presented Bill C-3 as a structural change to citizenship by descent rules that removes the first-generation limit for many families while introducing a Substantial Connection Test for future transmission.
The report concluded that cross-border policy uncertainty in early January 2026 has pushed more people to seek a second passport, and that Bill C-3 creates a mix of immediate recognition for some and connection-based transmission going forward.
Canada’s Bill C-3 has overhauled citizenship by descent, effectively removing the first-generation limit that previously barred many descendants born abroad. While providing automatic recognition for those born before late 2025, it establishes a three-year physical presence requirement for parents to pass status to future generations. This reform, coupled with shifting U.S. immigration enforcement, has sparked a significant surge in demand for Canadian documentation and second passports.
