New Access to Canadian Citizenship
Key Benefits of Claiming Canadian Citizenship
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Descendants of Canadians are increasingly interested in claiming Canadian citizenship. The ability to work or retire in Canada, access Canadian university education for themselves and their children, and the option to have a second passport has made Bill C-3 significant news for people who were previously ineligible to inherit Canadian citizenship because of the “first-generation limit”.
As of December 15, 2025, a person born or adopted abroad by a Canadian parent can now pass on citizenship to their own child born or adopted outside Canada. This means that children of Canadians born abroad, as well as grandchildren and subsequent generations descended from a Canadian now have a direct pathway to Canadian citizenship.
The takeaway is this: anyone born before December 15, 2025, who now qualify under the new rules will be recognized as Canadian and can apply for proof of citizenship.
The pathway to Canadian citizenship just got easier. For years, thousands of people with genuine Canadian family ties have been locked out of Canadian citizenship by outdated rules. That changed on December 15, 2025, when Bill C-3 came into force, granting the opportunity to claim citizenship to descendants of Canadians worldwide.
Bill C-3 is a new amendment to Canada’s Citizenship Act stipulating that if you were born before December 15, 2025, and have a Canadian parent, grandparent, or earlier direct ancestor, it’s possible to inherit Canadian citizenship. For those interested in having a second passport or considering the possibility of an expat life, there’s never been a better time. Doherty Fultz Immigration Consultants specializes in Canadian citizenship law and can help you get there. Here’s everything you need to know.
Those born abroad to at least one Canadian parent who was also born outside Canada, on or after December 15, 2025, will be eligible for Canadian citizenship if their parent was a Canadian citizen when they were born and satisfies the “substantial connection” requirement (their Canadian parent spent a total of 1,095 days in Canada prior to having their child).
Are you a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of a Canadian citizen? Even if your ancestor was born or naturalized in Canada generations ago, you may still have Canadian citizenship options. Contact Doherty Fultz Immigration for a free assessment to find out.
How Doherty Fultz Immigration Can Help
Navigating Canada’s changing citizenship laws can be confusing and overwhelming. If you’re eligible for citizenship, you need the precision and strategy that comes from years of experience, especially for an undertaking that could potentially change the lives of you and your family.
Doherty Fultz Immigration Consultants (DFI) have developed a streamlined process specifically designed for clients living outside Canada. They specialize in complex citizenship and ancestry-based cases, including discretionary grants and Canadian citizenship applications involving multiple generations.
DFI wants to be your partner in your citizenship journey. The DFI team will strategically position your case as the new criteria take effect, then tailor your application submission to maximize your possibility of acceptance. As your representative to the Canadian government, Doherty Fultz Immigration works to ensure your citizenship application clearly demonstrates your eligibility and maximizes your chances of approval.
“We have a proven track record of strong, well-prepared applications including those involving Canadian parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and earlier Canadian ancestors,” says Bonnie Tyler, General Manager and Citizenship Specialist at DFI. “If you want clarity, confidence, and professional representation during this pivotal moment in Canadian citizenship law, our team is here to help.”
The next step is to book an appointment for a consultation to get answers to your questions, or go ahead and start the citizenship application. DFI prides itself on getting results and can initiate the application process immediately when you’re ready. Fees are transparent and clearly structured, and urgent processing is also available. If you’d like a free assessment to learn how your citizenship journey will look, email citizenship@dfimmigation.ca or call 416-827-8778.
Doherty Fultz Immigration (DFI) is a full-service licensed Canadian citizenship and immigration consulting firm with offices located in Toronto and Ottawa, Ontario. Founded in 2014 by Canadian immigration consultant Cassandra Fultz, DFI provides assistance and advice to clients across all areas of Canadian citizenship and immigration law.
The firm is unique in that 90% of the team has been through a citizenship or immigration process themselves, including Founder Cassandra Fultz, who is originally from the United States. The firm has processed thousands of successful applications over more than a decade in business, including Canadian citizenship applications already approved under the new law.
The DFI team is known for taking on complex cases and applications that present significant legal challenges. The team is also proud to deliver results with a success rate exceeding 98%. Doherty Fultz Immigration combines empathy with extensive experience to ensure expert citizenship advice is accessible to everyone who needs it.
Visit dfimmigration.ca/canadian-citizenship to learn more.
If you want clarity, confidence, and professional representation during this pivotal moment in Canadian citizenship law, our team is here to help.”
The recent changes to the Citizenship Act are exciting because claiming Canadian citizenship carries significant benefits. Obtaining Canadian citizenship is about opportunity to choose the life you want to live. After claiming citizenship:
About Doherty Fultz Immigration
Bonnie Tyler, General Manager and Citizenship Specialist at DFI
Bill C-3 Makes Canadian Citizenship Possible for Thousands Born Abroad
By Emma McNail on January 20, 2026
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