BILL C-3 | CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT

Could You Already Be a Canadian Citizen?

Find Out What Bill C-3 Could Mean for Your Canadian Citizenship

Bill C-3 changed Canada's citizenship-by-descent rules. If you were born outside Canada and have a Canadian parent, grandparent, or earlier Canadian family connection, you may have a path to Canadian citizenship.

Why this Consultation?

Understand Your Family Connection: Find out whether your Canadian parent, grandparent or earlier ancestor may create a citizenship pathway
Understand How Bill C-3 Applies: Get an explanation of how the new citizenship-by-descent rules may relate to your circumstances.
Identify Documentation Gaps: Understand which family records and Canadian citizenship documents may be important.
Know Your Next Step: Leave the consultation with a clearer understanding of what to do next.

Could This Apply To Me?

You were born outside Canada.
Your parent was Canadian.
Your grandparent or earlier ancestor may have been Canadian.
You were born before December 15, 2025 and believe you may have a Canadian connection.
Your family has older Canadian records but you're unsure what they mean.
You're unsure whether citizenship can be passed through your family line.
You want to understand what documents you may need.

What Will We Cover in Your Consultation?

Bill C-3 expanded Canadian citizenship-by-descent beyond the first generation. In this private consultation, we'll review your specific family connection to Canada, assess how the current rules apply to your situation, identify any documentation you may need, and outline a clear path forward — so you leave with real answers, not more uncertainty.

Your Family History

Discuss your Canadian parent, grandparent or other Canadian family connection.

Your Potential Citizenship Pathway

Understand how the current citizenship-by-descent rules may relate to your situation.

Your Documents

Identify important records and potential documentation gaps.

Your Next Steps

Understand what you may need to do next, including whether further research or a citizenship certificate application may be appropriate

How it Works

Book a private 20-minute consultation, share your family background, and walk away with a clear understanding of your citizenship pathway and next steps.

Frequently Asked Question

These are the questions we hear most often. If yours isn't here, your consultation is the right place to start.

Could I already be a Canadian citizen?

Possibly, yes. Under Bill C-3, Canadian citizenship can now be passed beyond the first generation born outside Canada. If you have a Canadian parent, grandparent, or earlier ancestor, you may have a citizenship pathway that previously did not exist. The consultation will help determine whether your specific family connection qualifies under the current rules and what your next steps should be.

What if my Canadian connection is through my grandparent or earlier ancestor?

This is exactly what Bill C-3 was designed to address. Before this legislation, citizenship by descent was limited to one generation born outside Canada. Under the new rules, connections through a grandparent or earlier Canadian ancestor may now create a valid citizenship pathway. The consultation will help clarify whether your specific family line qualifies and what documentation would be needed to support your case.

I don't have all my family documents. Can I still book a consultation?

Yes, absolutely. You do not need to have all your documents ready before the consultation. Many people come in with incomplete records or are unsure which documents even exist. The purpose of the consultation is to help you understand what may be relevant to your case, identify any documentation gaps, and clarify what records you may need to locate or obtain. Starting without everything is completely normal.

What if I'm not sure whether my parent or grandparent was Canadian?

That uncertainty is exactly why this consultation exists. Many people have a sense that there may be a Canadian connection in their family but are unsure of the details or how to verify it. During the consultation, we will discuss what you do know about your family history, explore whether there are indicators of a Canadian connection, and help you understand what steps or records could provide the clarity you need to move forward.

What happened to the first-generation limit under Bill C-3?

Prior to Bill C-3, Canadian citizenship by descent was restricted to only one generation born outside Canada — meaning if your parent was born outside Canada, you generally could not inherit citizenship through them. Bill C-3 removed this first-generation limit, allowing citizenship to potentially pass through multiple generations. If you were born before December 15, 2025 and have a Canadian connection beyond your parent, you may now have a pathway that was previously unavailable to you.

What should I prepare before the consultation?

You don't need to have everything in order, but coming with a few basics will make the session more productive. Try to gather whatever you know about your Canadian family connection — your parent's or grandparent's name, approximate birth dates, and any documents such as birth certificates, passports, or naturalization records if available. Even a rough family timeline or notes from memory can be helpful. The more context you can share, the more specific and useful the guidance you will receive during your 20-minute consultation.

What happens after the consultation?

After the consultation, you will have a clearer understanding of whether your family connection may support a Canadian citizenship claim under Bill C-3, which documents are relevant to your case, and what your logical next step is — whether that is gathering further records, conducting additional research, or proceeding with a citizenship certificate application. You will leave with direction, not just information, so you can move forward with confidence rather than uncertainty.

Want to Know If You May Have a Path to Canadian Citizenship?