Canada has introduced major amendments to its citizenship law, allowing individuals who have lived in the country for at least three years to claim Canadian citizenship, regardless of their current location. The government has approved the C-3 Bill, which is expected to become law soon, resolving long-standing issues faced by children born abroad to Canadian residents.
Under previous rules, children born outside Canada to parents who were themselves foreign-born—known as “last Canadians”—were not automatically granted citizenship. This provision sparked protests and legal challenges over the past several years, with courts ruling it unconstitutional. The C-3 Bill now addresses these concerns, ensuring broader eligibility.
The new law allows children born abroad to acquire Canadian citizenship if their parents have a strong connection to Canada, including having lived there for at least three years. This also applies to adoptive parents with children born outside the country. Similar policies exist in countries like Australia, the UK, and the USA, which influenced Canada’s approach.
Experts say the law will be a major benefit for Indian families whose children previously could not obtain Canadian citizenship. Once implemented, citizenship will be granted irrespective of parents’ birthplace, and the number of applications is expected to rise significantly. Indians moving to Canada in the future will also enjoy these benefits.