Canada expands citizenship by descent, i.e., Canada and Italy have taken very different approaches to citizenship by descent in recent years. While Italy has made its rules stricter, Canada has made it easier for people to claim citizenship through their family history.
Since March 2025, Italy has limited citizenship by descent to only two generations. Before this change, anyone who could prove they were descended from an Italian citizen after 1861 could apply for citizenship. This update has removed eligibility for many people around the world.
In contrast, Canada introduced more flexible rules. In December 2025, the country passed Bill C-3, which removed the first-generation limit (FGL) on citizenship by descent. This change also restored citizenship to many people who had lost it under older rules.
Who Can Now Qualify For Canadian Citizenship?
Under the new law, people born before December 15, 2025 may now qualify for Canadian citizenship if they can prove they have a Canadian ancestor. This can include distant relatives, such as great-great-grandparents.
This change has made millions of people eligible, especially in countries like the United States. Many Americans, particularly those living in New England, may now be able to apply for Canadian citizenship.
Canadian citizenship offers several benefits. These include the right to enter and live in Canada, the ability to work without restrictions, the right to vote in elections, and the option to sponsor family members for permanent residence.
Steps To Apply For A Canadian Passport
After becoming a citizen, individuals can apply for a Canadian passport. This has become more popular in recent times, especially among Americans.
To begin the process, individuals should first check if they qualify under the new rules. This can be done using available online tools.
If eligible, they must apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for a proof of citizenship certificate. This document confirms their status as a Canadian citizen.
Moreover, applicants need to provide documents that show their family connection to a Canadian citizen. This may include birth certificates and other records that prove lineage.
In most cases, applications for citizenship by descent are submitted in paper form. Processing times for citizenship certificates are currently around 10 months.
Once the certificate is issued, individuals can then apply for a Canadian passport.
It is important to note that Americans can hold dual citizenship with Canada. However, people from other countries should check their national laws, as some countries do not allow dual citizenship. In such cases, individuals may need to give up their original nationality.
Key Changes Under Bill C-3
Bill C-3, officially called An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act, was passed on December 15, 2025. This law removed the earlier first-generation limit that restricted how citizenship could be passed down.
Under the old system, Canadian citizens born abroad could not pass citizenship to their children if those children were also born outside Canada. These individuals were often called “lost Canadians.”
The new law has changed this. It now allows:
- Those born abroad before December 15, 2025 to claim citizenship if they can prove a family link to a Canadian citizen, even beyond the first generation; and
- Those born on or after that date can claim citizenship if their Canadian parent, also born abroad, lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days before their birth or adoption.
People who already applied under earlier temporary rules do not need to apply again. Their applications will be reviewed under the new system.
This change came after a 2023 decision by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The court ruled that the old first-generation limit was not fair under the law. The federal government accepted this decision and chose not to challenge it.
Overall, Canada’s new rules have made citizenship more accessible, while Italy’s changes have made it more limited.
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