Canada Modernizes Citizenship by Descent - What This Means for Families

The Government of Canada has introduced significant updates to the Citizenship Act that will make it easier for Canadian parents born or adopted abroad to pass citizenship to their children born outside the country.

What Has Changed?

Previously, many Canadian citizens who were born or adopted outside Canada could not automatically pass citizenship to their children, especially if they themselves had inherited citizenship through descent. This caused major challenges for families who wanted their children to have equal citizenship rights.

Under the new amendments, Canada is correcting these long-standing inequities by allowing citizenship to be passed on more easily, while still ensuring that the parent has a meaningful connection to Canada.

Who Benefits from This Change?

• Canadian citizens born abroad

• Canadian citizens adopted abroad

• Children born outside Canada to Canadian parents

• Families who previously faced legal barriers to passing on citizenship

• Refugees and PR applicants who later become citizens and want to bring or sponsor their children

Why This Matters

This update strengthens Canada’s commitment to fairness and family unity. It may open the door to:

• New sponsorship opportunities

• Faster unification for families

• Reduced need for long immigration processes for children

• Correction of past injustices affecting multi-generation Canadians abroad

How Salvera Can Help

If you or your child may be affected by these changes, we can help you:

• Understand eligibility

• Navigate documentation requirements

• Determine whether a Citizenship Application or Sponsorship is needed

• Prepare necessary evidence

Contact us for guidance on how this update may apply to your family.