Canadian citizenship by descent: the rules we apply
Since 15 December 2025, citizenship by descent reaches beyond the first generation born abroad. Births before that date are citizens automatically; later births depend on the Canadian parent's days in Canada, which Rootdossier keeps as a setting with a source note. A citizenship certificate is the proof.
Organiser, not legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the consulate or a lawyer. Read the current official page before you rely on any rule here: the Government of Canada page on the 2025 rules.
Citizenship by descent beyond the first generation (2025 amendment)
Since 15 December 2025, people born abroad in the second or a later generation before that date are citizens; later births need the parent's time in Canada. A citizenship certificate is the proof.
Rules
- The 2025 amendment to the Citizenship Act took effect on 15 December 2025. Source: Change to citizenship rules in 2025, date modified 24 December 2025, read 28 September 2026.
- People born outside Canada in the second or a later generation to a Canadian parent before 15 December 2025 became Canadian citizens automatically. Source: Change to citizenship rules in 2025, date modified 24 December 2025, read 28 September 2026.
- For a child born or adopted abroad on or after 15 December 2025 in the second or a later generation, the Canadian parent who was born or adopted abroad must have spent a set number of days in Canada before the birth or adoption. Source: Change to citizenship rules in 2025, date modified 24 December 2025, read 28 September 2026. Setting to confirm: Days the parent must have spent in Canada: 1095 days. Kept as a setting at the spec's request. The page read on 28 September 2026 gives 1,095 days; how days are counted and proved can change, so confirm on the current page.
- To be sure, and to have proof for a passport, you apply for a citizenship certificate. Source: Change to citizenship rules in 2025, date modified 24 December 2025, read 28 September 2026.
- Genuine documents from the issuing authority for every generation back to the Canadian ancestor: birth certificates showing the parents, citizenship or naturalisation certificates, and hospital or baptismal records where no birth certificate exists. Source: Apply for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship), date modified 17 July 2026, read 28 September 2026.
- Documents not in English or French need a translation and an affidavit from the translator. A family member may not translate. Source: Apply for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship), date modified 17 July 2026, read 28 September 2026.
Documents the register asks for
| Document | For | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | Everyone in the chain | Birth certificates showing the parents, for every generation. |
| Name change record | Everyone in the chain (when the chain records this event) | Links a changed name to the earlier records. |
| Proof of citizenship | Each ancestor | Citizenship or naturalisation certificates for each Canadian generation. |
| Proof of residence or days present | Your parent in the line (if you were born on or after 15 December 2025) | Born on or after 15 December 2025: proof of the parent's days in Canada before your birth. |
| Photo ID (certified copy) | You | Your own identity document. |
| Application form (official) | You | The citizenship certificate application. |
Dates
- 2025 amendment in force: 15 December 2025.
Apostille by default: no. Translation by default: no. You can switch either per document.
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