Historic Change: No Generational Limit
Since the passage of Bill C-3 in December 2025, there is no generational limit on Canadian citizenship by descent. Citizenship certificates have been issued to applicants as far out as the 9th generation born abroad, with ancestors dating back to the 1730s. If you were born before December 15, 2025 and have a Canadian ancestor, you are likely already a Canadian citizen.
Quick Start Guide
If Your Canadian Ancestor Is Your Parent or Grandparent
You are already a Canadian citizen. You simply need to apply for a citizenship certificate to prove it.
- Submit the CIT0001 form applying for proof of citizenship / a citizenship certificate
- You can request urgent processing if you qualify
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will process your application and send you a citizenship certificate
If Your Canadian Ancestor Is Your Great-Grandparent or Further Back
There is no generational limit on Canadian citizenship by descent. You will need to apply for a citizenship certificate and prove your entire line of descent to the satisfaction of IRCC.
The current CIT0001 form only has sections for parents and grandparents. If your Canadian ancestor is your great-grandparent, there is a note in the instructions explaining what to do. If your ancestor is further back, you'll need to explain your line of descent on a separate sheet of paper and include all supporting documentation.
If Applying for a Child Born On or After December 15, 2025
In addition to proving the child's line of descent, you must also prove that the parent passing Canadian ancestry spent at least 1,095 days physically present in Canada before the child was born (the substantial presence test). This requirement only applies to children born on or after December 15, 2025.
How to Apply for a Citizenship Certificate
Required Documents
- CIT0001 Form — Application for a citizenship certificate, one per applicant
- CIT0014 Checklist — Document checklist, one per applicant
- Two Photos — Per applicant, meeting IRCC specifications
- Two Forms of ID — Colour photocopies per applicant (if using a passport, make sure it is signed)
- Payment Receipt — C$75 per applicant
- Line of Descent Documents — Colour photocopies of birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other documents establishing your lineage back to your Canadian ancestor
Also Recommended
- A cover letter laying out your line of descent simply and clearly
- IMM 5476 (representative form) for anyone applying alongside you, so you can act on their behalf
- A family tree showing the lines of descent you are relying on
Documenting Your Line of Descent
For each generation in your line of descent, you need a birth certificate that names the parent passing down Canadian citizenship. If a person's name on their own birth certificate doesn't match their name on their child's birth certificate (for example, a mother's maiden name vs. married name), you'll need to include a marriage certificate or other documentation of the name change.
For your Canadian ancestor (Gen 0), try to obtain a certified copy of their birth record, birth certificate, or baptism record from the relevant Canadian authority. For Quebec, baptism records serve as the official birth record, as Quebec didn't start recording births outside of baptisms until the 1990s.
Application Fee
Per applicant
Generational Limit
Confirmed to Gen 9+
Days in Canada
Required for children born after Dec 15, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have a Canadian ancestor? Were they Canadian before the next person down your line of descent was born? Are there any adoptions in your line? If you have a Canadian ancestor with no adoptions in your line, you are very likely already a Canadian citizen. You just need to apply for a citizenship certificate to prove it.
There is no generational limit. Since Bill C-3 came into force on December 15, 2025, citizenship certificates have been issued to applicants as far out as the 9th generation born abroad, with ancestors dating back to the 1730s. You will need to document your entire line of descent to the satisfaction of IRCC.
Yes. This is true for many applicants and it does not matter. Thanks to the Lost Canadians amendments, you can still get a citizenship certificate. Unless your ancestor specifically renounced their Canadian citizenship directly to Canadian government officials, as an adult, in writing, you are likely still eligible.
No. They do not need to apply before you or with you. They never need to apply at all. Many people with parents or grandparents who passed away before it was even possible for them to become Canadian citizens have successfully gotten citizenship by descent.
If you are the 1st generation born abroad, you can do either. If you are the 2nd generation or further out, you must send in a paper application. If you live in the US or Canada, you can send your paper application by mail or courier (UPS, FedEx). If you live in another country, submit through your local Canadian consular post.
No. IRCC does not ask for or want apostilled records. Simply send colour photocopies of your documents.
No. Send colour photocopies only. If you send originals, you should not expect to get them back.
Unfortunately, Canada does not treat adoptees the same as biological children for citizenship by descent purposes. If the adopted person is in your line of descent, they would need to have gotten their Canadian citizenship grant before the next person in the chain was born. In most cases, adoption breaks the chain of descent.
If you applied before December 2023 and were denied, that was under the old law which had a First Generation Limit (FGL). The new law (C-3), effective December 15, 2025, removes the generational limit. You can and should reapply.
No. You will not have to pay Canadian taxes if you don't live in Canada or earn money in Canada. Applying for a citizenship certificate does not change your tax obligations.
Not directly. Once you have your citizenship certificate, you can sponsor your spouse for permanent residence, which has its own requirements including the intention to move to Canada. After gaining PR status and living in Canada, your spouse may eventually be eligible to apply for citizenship through naturalization.
IRCC will accept alternative documentation. In order of preference: birth certificate, birth record, baptism record, marriage record (if it lists parents), death record, or any other records you can find (censuses, naturalization records, military records). Include a note in your cover letter explaining what you were unable to find and what alternative documentation you are providing.
Disclaimer: All information on this page is general information only, not legal advice. Only an IRCC officer can make a final determination of your citizenship status. For legal advice about your specific situation, consult a Canadian immigration and citizenship lawyer with expertise in Canadian citizenship by descent.