Citizenship by Descent (Proof of Citizenship)

Eligibility is determined by your parent’s status and their physical history in Canada. The requirements differ based on whether your parent was born in Canada or abroad.

The First Generation

You qualify automatically for citizenship if you were born outside Canada to at least one parent who was born in Canada or naturalized (became a citizen after immigrating) before your birth. In these cases, there is no requirement for the parent to have lived in Canada for any specific amount of time after your birth.

Beyond the First Generation (The Substantial Connection Test)

If you were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent who was also born outside Canada, you are now eligible for citizenship under the 2025 legal reforms. However, your Canadian parent must meet the Substantial Connection requirement:

• Physical Presence: The Canadian parent must have been physically present in Canada for a cumulative total of at least 1,095 days (three years) at any point before your birth or adoption.
• Retroactive Eligibility: This new rule applies to "Lost Canadians" who were previously excluded by the 2009 first-generation limit. If you were denied in the past, you may now be eligible to apply.

Adoptions

The same rules apply to children adopted abroad by Canadian parents. If the adoptive parent was born abroad, they must meet the 1,095-day physical presence requirement in Canada to pass citizenship to the adopted child.