Immigration Canada Expanded Canadian Citizenship By Descent Beyond First-generation

Ottawa, May 27, 2024 -

In a big step towards making things fairer and more inclusive, Immigration Minister Marc Miller has introduced Bill C-71. This new bill plans to change the Canadian citizenship rules. The main change is that Canadian citizens born in other countries can now pass their citizenship to their children. This differs from the current rule, which only lets the first generation born abroad do this.

Key Provisions:

• Extends citizenship by descent beyond the first generation.
• Restores citizenship to 'Lost Canadians' and their descendants.
• Parents born abroad must have spent 1,095 days in Canada before their child's birth or adoption to pass on citizenship.

The Minister said more details will be available if the bill passes in Parliament and receives royal assent. He did not provide a timeframe for when the bill might be approved.