Maple News reports that a historic shift in Canadian citizenship law is positioning the country as a global leader in second passport demand in 2026. With the passage of Bill C-3, which came into effect on December 15, 2025, Canada has removed the longstanding ‘first-generation limit’ on citizenship by descent, dramatically expanding eligibility to hundreds of thousands—and potentially millions—around the world.
Previously, Canadians born abroad could not pass citizenship to their children if they too were born outside Canada. That restriction is now gone, allowing a retroactive pathway to citizenship for multiple generations—regardless of birthplace—provided they can trace their lineage to a Canadian-born or naturalized ancestor. This sweeping change has already spurred what many are calling a “Lineage Gold Rush,” with global families scouring archives for ancestral Canadian ties.
Under the new framework of Bill C-3, applicants fall into two main categories. Those born before December 15, 2025, benefit from an automatic restoration of citizenship if they can demonstrate an uninterrupted descent from a Canadian ancestor. No physical presence or “substantial connection” to Canada is required for this group. For individuals born on or after that date, however, the Canadian parent must have spent at least 1,095 days (three years) physically present in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption to transmit citizenship.
The reform addresses historical inequities, including gender-based disparities in lineage rights and previous barriers for internationally adopted children. Under Bill C-3, legal adoptions are now weighted equally with biological births, provided the connection criteria are met, which has opened the door to citizenship for many families living abroad.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has emphasized that while the law is inclusive, applicants must still present strong documentation, including long-form birth and marriage certificates, plus residency records. Individuals once rejected under the old rule—many born in the 1980s, 1990s, or early 2010s—are now eligible to reapply with renewed hope.
During parliamentary discussions in late 2025, the federal government estimated 150,000 to 300,000 newly eligible applicants. However, experts now suggest that the real number could be considerably higher—potentially between 500,000 and 1 million globally—due to the cascading impact of restoring generational rights.
Canada’s revamped policy comes at a time of growing global interest in secondary citizenships. Unlike investment-based programs in other countries, Canada offers long-term generational benefits, access to world-class public services, and stability in a G7 nation. For global citizens seeking security, opportunity, and global mobility, the Canadian passport—already one of the most powerful in the world—has become more accessible than ever.
What started as a legislative correction has evolved into one of the most significant expansions of citizenship rights globally. In 2026, Canada is not just welcoming new immigrants—it is reconnecting with its global diaspora, turning ancestral bonds into modern citizenship opportunities.