Canada's Citizenship-by-Descent Reform: What Bill C-3 Really Means

by Janmojaya Barik (Guest Author)

New Delhi, November 25, 2025

Canada's move to reform its Citizenship Act through the new Bill C-3 has drawn wide attention among global families, including a large number of Indian-origin households. The legislation, which received royal assent in November 2025, eliminates a long-criticised barrier popularly termed the first generation limit. At the same time, it introduces a new requirement that parents born abroad must show a substantial connection to Canada before their children born overseas can inherit citizenship. The reform is important because of the impact it will have on identity rights, diaspora inclusion, and long-term family security.

A Long Standing Problem

The old rule was in place since 2009. It prevented Canadian citizens born outside Canada from automatically passing on citizenship to their children if the children too were born outside the country. The result was a category of persons that some people labeled lost Canadians. Many Indian-origin families residing in the Gulf, Singapore or the United Kingdom found that although they are Canadian citizens, they cannot pass that status onto their children born abroad. The issue became increasingly visible and eventually reached the courts in Canada. In 2023, a Canadian judge declared parts of the restriction unconstitutional. The government was required to fix the system, and Bill C-3 is its response.

What the Reform Changes

The new law eliminates the blanket generational cut off. In principle, a Canadian citizen, even if born abroad, may now pass on citizenship to a child also born abroad. It closes a long-standing gap and restores entitlement to many families.

At the same time, though, the reform adds a condition: Parents in such cases must demonstrate a sufficient connection to Canada. In government communication, this is most commonly referred to as at least one thousand ninety-five cumulative days of physical presence in Canada before the child's birth or adoption. The measure is intended to ensure that citizenship is tied to an actual connection to the country. This standard strikes a balance between fairness and integrity, the government said.

Who Benefits and Who Does Not

The reform brings immediate relief to the families that were excluded under the old rule. It is the Indian-origin professionals posted abroad, dual-career families, long-term residents of the Gulf, and many others who can now claim what they once assumed was already theirs. In this way, citizenship offers their children security, clarity of identity, access to education, and long-term mobility.

The new test won't work for everyone, however. Many globally mobile families haven't spent three years in Canada in a way that can be documented. That includes professionals who moved directly from India to the Middle East, and families who hold Canadian citizenship but have always lived abroad. For such households, the reform may feel like the removal of one barrier only to find another in its place.

Another cause for concern is that of internationally adopted children: advocacy groups claim that some adoptive parents may be unable to produce the required documents, and that children should not lose out because of administrative obstacles.

Whether reform represents an actual expansion of rights, or a cautious administrative compromise, depends upon the manner in which it is executed. The immigration department will have to process thousands of applications, verify many documents and deal with cases where old records are missing. Delays in processing may dilute the effect of the reform and prolong uncertainty for families. Past immigration reforms in Canada have shown time and again that administrative design is just as important as legislative intent.

A Shift in Canada's View of Citizenship

Bill C-3 represented a conceptual reorientation in the way Canada approached citizenship by descent. Canada moved from a strict generational limit, popularly perceived as inequitable, toward a flexible-but-conditional approach. In short, what the government tried to do is find middle ground between entitlement and responsibility. The substantial connection requirement reflects the belief that there are obligations to come with citizenship and that it is not merely a symbolic device in nature. For families of Indian origin, the reform may strengthen their sense of belonging to Canada. Besides, it sends out a broader message that the modern diaspora families are recognised in law-not just through economic contribution but through ties that stretch across borders.

A Neutral Conclusion

The reform of citizenship-by-descent is an important correction to a rule that for many years created exclusion. In this respect, the expansion of eligibility, the reinstatement of rights for those who were unfairly cut off, and the updating of the system to better reflect today's mobile global population are all welcome moves. At the same time, the new connection requirement places a burden of proof on families and risks leaving some still excluded. It may be that the law, as finally implemented, reinforces fairness or introduces new complexities. For now, Bill C-3 is at once a most significant yet cautious step toward a more inclusive citizenship framework.

(Janmojaya Barik is a Political Science student at Amity University with a sharp interest in International Relations, global governance, and contemporary political developments. As a curious political and IR news writer, he brings clarity, accuracy, and analytical depth to fast-moving events.

His work focuses on breaking down complex provoking domestic and international issues for young audiences.)