The law is new and still settling. Updates and developments on the bill and its implementation are posted here as they happen.
The new citizenship-by-descent framework took effect today. People born before this date who were excluded by the first-generation limit are now citizens by operation of law and can apply for proof of citizenship. For births and adoptions from today onward, beyond the first generation, the 1,095-day substantial-connection test applies to the Canadian parent.
An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025) received Royal Assent as S.C. 2025, c. 5. The amendments respond to Bjorkquist et al. v. Attorney General of Canada, in which the Ontario Superior Court found the first-generation limit unconstitutional.
The Senate committee sent the bill back without changes, but added observations. It noted that a gap remains for some children adopted from other countries, and asked for the Citizenship Act to be rewritten in plainer language. Adoption cases still need to be looked at one by one.
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