Recognition · Open
Canada citizenship by descent: who qualifies in 2026
Bill C-3 took effect on December 15, 2025 and removed Canada's first-generation limit for people born abroad. Many Americans with a Canadian parent, grandparent or older ancestor became citizens automatically and now only need a certificate to prove it. This is not an EU passport, but it is one of the largest new routes open to Americans.
- Route
- Proof of citizenship (citizenship certificate) after Bill C-3
- How far back
- Grandparent, great-grandparent and beyond, for people born before December 15, 2025
- Language test
- No
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed. You keep your US citizenship.
- Government fee
- $75 CAD per certificate
- Typical timeline
- About 34 months (IRCC, reported October 2026)
The rules that decide eligibility
- If you were born before December 15, 2025 and a Canadian chain of descent reaches you, you may already be a citizen.
- Each ancestor in the chain must have been a Canadian citizen when the next generation was born or adopted.
- People born abroad on or after December 15, 2025 to a parent who was also born abroad need that parent to have spent 1,095 days in Canada before the birth.
- You confirm citizenship by applying for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship).
What to watch
- Canada taxes by residence, not citizenship, so a Canadian passport alone does not create Canadian tax obligations.