There have recently been major changes to the rules governing inherited citizenship. In Bjorkquist et al. v. Attorney General of Canada (2023), the one-generation limit to citizenship by descent was deemed unconstitutional, and it has since been eliminated. The government formalized the new rules in Bill C-3, which went into effect in December 2025.

If you have any Canadian ancestor, no matter how far back, then you may be a Canadian citizen under the new rules.

The rights of citizenship don't come automatically, though. In order for your Canadian citizenship to be recognized, you must apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate. This requires you to provide evidence showing an unbroken line of descent going back to your most recent Canadian-born ancestor.

Proving your Canadian lineage to the satisfaction of IRCC can be a challenge. As a member in good standing of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, I can help you assemble the strongest possible application package, ensuring that no 'i' goes undotted, and no 't' goes uncrossed.

The government's processing times for these applications are long and getting longer. While urgent processing is possible in some situations, IRCC estimates that non-urgent applications submitted this month will take about 34 months, so don't wait!

Contact me for a free initial assessment, and take the first step toward Canadian citizenship today.