New law opens Canada citizenship route for millions in US

Millions of United States citizens with Canadian ancestry are now eligible to obtain Canadian passports under a new citizenship law that came into effect on December 15, 2025. The change allows individuals to claim Canadian citizenship by descent if they can trace their lineage to a Canadian ancestor.

Under the law, eligibility is not tied to place of birth or whether parents or grandparents lived in Canada. Individuals born before December 15, 2025, can apply for proof of citizenship if they establish descent from a Canadian ancestor. Once approved, they can apply for a Canadian passport.

The provision applies to both biological and adopted children born outside Canada. According to a report by CIC News, a large number of eligible individuals are expected from regions such as New England in the United States, where historical migration from Canada between 1870 and 1930 created a sizeable population with Canadian roots.

First-generation limit removed

The update follows the introduction of Bill C-3, which amended the Citizenship Act and removed the earlier first-generation limit on citizenship by descent. As per CIC News report, this limit, introduced in 2009, had restricted eligibility to only one generation born outside Canada. In 2023, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled the provision unconstitutional, leading to the legislative change.

For individuals born on or after December 15, 2025, the law introduces a condition. Citizenship by descent will apply only if the Canadian parent meets a “substantial connection to Canada” requirement, defined as having lived in Canada for at least three years before the child’s birth or adoption.

Applicants must submit documents such as birth certificates or other records to prove their lineage.

The law allows eligible individuals to hold dual citizenship. Those who obtain Canadian citizenship can enter and settle in Canada and access the mobility benefits linked to a Canadian passport. It also states that Canadian citizenship does not automatically create tax obligations, as income tax applies based on residency.