2024 Exciting Changes to Canadian Citizenship: What You Need to Know

Immigration Minister Marc Miller has introduced Bill C-71, now known as Bill C-3, a transformative piece of legislation that redefines how Canadian citizenship is passed down. The bill aims to extend citizenship beyond the first generation, making the process more inclusive while upholding the core values of Canadian identity.

This legislation would automatically confer Canadian citizenship to persons born abroad to a Canadian parent who was also born abroad prior to the legislation’s enactment. It would also extend access to a direct grant of citizenship to children born abroad and adopted by a Canadian parent beyond the first generation. Following the legislation’s implementation, parents born abroad who have or adopt children also born outside Canada will need to have spent at least 1,095 cumulative days of physical presence in Canada prior to the birth or adoption of their child to pass on citizenship.

Key Features of Bill C-71 (Bill C-3)

• Immediate Citizenship for Second-Generation Abroad
  Children born outside Canada to Canadian parents who themselves were born abroad will automatically gain Canadian citizenship once the law is enacted. Learn more about Canadian Citizenship Through a Grandparent.

• Greater Access for Adopted Children
  The bill extends citizenship grants to children adopted abroad by Canadian parents, even beyond the first generation. Check our Canadian Citizenship Through Adoption service for guidance.

• Physical Presence Requirement
  Parents born outside Canada must demonstrate at least 1,095 cumulative days in Canada before their child’s birth or adoption to transmit citizenship.

• Reinstating “Lost Canadians”
  The bill restores citizenship to individuals who lost or never acquired it due to outdated laws and extends citizenship to their descendants. For assistance, see our Citizenship Certificate services.

This legislation represents a major step toward inclusivity, addressing long-standing gaps in citizenship law and ensuring that more people can claim their Canadian heritage.

As these changes may raise questions for individuals and their families, it’s essential to stay informed and understand how this new legislation might impact your citizenship status. Book a consultation with our experts to see how Bill C-3 affects you.