First-generation limit removed
Citizenship can now pass through multiple generations born outside Canada, not just the first.
Free eligibility assessment
Canadian Citizenship Eligibility Quiz
Bill C-3 came into force on December 15, 2025 and restored citizenship to most people previously blocked by the first-generation limit. We also check Bill C-37 proof of citizenship and standard naturalization pathways, so you get the full picture of your options.
- 2 minutes
- Confidential
- 100% free
- Lawyer-reviewed
The three pathways we check
What is Bill C-3?
Bill C-3 came into force on December 15, 2025. It is the most comprehensive citizenship restoration law Canada has passed, fixing decades of inequity in the 1947 and 1977 Citizenship Acts. The quiz checks whether you qualify under Bill C-3, Bill C-37, or standard naturalization.
Marriage rule reversed
Women who lost citizenship by marrying a non-Canadian before 1977 are restored, along with descendants.
Age-28 rule eliminated
Canadians born abroad no longer lose citizenship for failing to apply to retain it before turning 28.
Retroactive recognition
Bill C-3 applies retroactively — many people are already Canadian citizens without knowing it.
Charter-compliant
The legislation removes gender-based and other inequities from older citizenship laws.
No residency required
You can claim citizenship by descent from anywhere in the world; living in Canada is not required.
Who may qualify?
- Parent or grandparent born in Canada
- Canadian parent or grandparent who was a citizen
- Women who lost citizenship through marriage before 1977
- People who lost citizenship under the age-28 retention rule
- Descendants of Lost Canadians
Why now
The law just changed.
For sixteen years a single rule blocked families from the citizenship they had inherited. That rule was repealed on December 15, 2025 — and the fix reaches backwards.
Who is in line
- Great-grandparent born in Canada
- Grandparent born abroad
- Parent born abroad
- You
Before Bill C-3, this line stopped at your parent. It no longer does.
- 1977
Citizenship passed freely by descent
Children born abroad to a Canadian parent inherited citizenship without a generational cap.
- 2009
The first-generation limit arrives
Bill C-37 cut off the second generation born abroad — thousands of families lost the line overnight.
- 2023
Ontario court rules the cap unconstitutional
The first-generation limit was struck down, starting two years of legislative fixes and extensions.
- Dec 15, 2025
Bill C-3 comes into force
The cap is gone and citizenship is restored retroactively — including for people who have already passed away.
What the change means in practice
9–12 mo
IRCC processing
Volume has surged since C-3. Earlier files clear the queue first.
Retroactive
Back to birth
If you qualify, you have been a citizen all along — this is recognition, not naturalization.
No move
Residency
Nothing requires you to relocate to Canada to claim or keep the status.
What citizenship gives you
What Canadian citizenship actually unlocks.
185+
Visa-free destinations
The Canadian passport opens the EU, the United Kingdom, Japan and most of the world without a visa.
Publicly funded healthcare
Citizens are eligible for provincial health coverage in every province and territory — no premiums required.
3–5x
Lower university tuition
Domestic tuition at Canadian universities instead of international rates, for you and for your children.
Family sponsorship rights
Citizens can sponsor a spouse, partner or children, and pass status down the family line.
For-life status
Citizenship can't be taken away for living abroad. It stays with you and travels with you.
Permanent right
Live & work anywhere in Canada
No permits, no province restrictions, and full access to the Canadian labour market whenever you want it.
- BC
- ON
- QC
- +10
How it works
From question to next steps.
Three steps, no cost, no obligation. Every case is reviewed by our Canadian immigration legal team.
01
Answer the quiz
A handful of questions about your parents, grandparents and family history. No documents needed yet.
02
Get your pathway
See whether Bill C-3 restoration, Bill C-37 proof of citizenship, or naturalization is the route that fits you.
03
Reviewed by our lawyers
Our immigration team reviews your family line and reaches out with concrete next steps.
Questions, answered
Before you start.
What is Bill C-3 and who does it help?
Bill C-3 is Canada's citizenship restoration law. It removes the first-generation limit, so people whose Canadian grandparent or great-grandparent passed citizenship down the family line — and who were previously cut off — can have their Canadian citizenship recognized.
Do I have to move to Canada to claim Canadian citizenship?
No. Canadian citizenship by descent is a status, not a residency requirement. Most people who claim it keep living where they are and hold the status for optionality — school, work, healthcare and a Plan B.
Will I lose my current citizenship?
Canada fully permits dual citizenship, and the United States and most other countries do too. Having your Canadian citizenship recognized does not affect your existing status.
Can my children inherit Canadian citizenship from me?
In many cases yes. Citizenship by descent can pass to your children, and a Canadian immigration lawyer can confirm exactly how the rules apply to your family line.
How long does a citizenship application take?
IRCC processing for proof of citizenship applications is currently running roughly 9 to 12 months, and volumes have risen since Bill C-3. Gathering birth, marriage and citizenship records usually takes a few weeks before filing.
Is the eligibility quiz really free?
Yes. The quiz is completely free and takes about two minutes. If your answers point to a real pathway, our immigration team reviews your case and reaches out with next steps.
This quiz provides general information only and is not legal advice. Submitting it does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Your details are used only by Ansari Immigration Law to contact you about your case.
Get started
See if you qualify in two minutes.
Free, confidential, and reviewed by a Canadian immigration lawyer.
- 2 minutes
- Confidential
- 100% free
- Lawyer-reviewed
Prefer to read first? Read the Bill C-3 guide
Did you know?