In a late-night vote on Nov 3, reported publicly on Nov 4, MPs struck down committee amendments that would have imposed tougher language, security and residency rules on Canadians seeking to pass citizenship to children born abroad. The reversal restores the original, looser version of Bill C-3 and keeps Ottawa on track to meet a court-ordered Nov 20 deadline to fix the 2009 first-generation limit deemed unconstitutional in 2023.
If the bill clears the Senate, Canadian citizens who themselves were born outside the country will again be able to transmit citizenship to their foreign-born children, provided they spent a total of 1,095 days in Canada prior to the birth or adoption. The change also promises to restore status to thousands of “Lost Canadians,” including some expatriate executives and military families.
![House Removes Controversial Limits on Citizenship-by-Descent in Bill C-3]()
For global mobility teams, the update simplifies family planning for cross-border assignees: children born during long postings will regain automatic access to Canadian passports and education benefits without the need for sponsorship. Companies should review assignment policies and tax equalisation clauses to reflect the renewed citizenship flexibility.
The bill still faces third reading in the House and full Senate scrutiny, but observers expect swift passage given the looming judicial deadline. Immigration lawyers advise affected families to gather travel records now so they are ready to file once regulations are published.
If the bill clears the Senate, Canadian citizens who themselves were born outside the country will again be able to transmit citizenship to their foreign-born children, provided they spent a total of 1,095 days in Canada prior to the birth or adoption. The change also promises to restore status to thousands of “Lost Canadians,” including some expatriate executives and military families.
For global mobility teams, the update simplifies family planning for cross-border assignees: children born during long postings will regain automatic access to Canadian passports and education benefits without the need for sponsorship. Companies should review assignment policies and tax equalisation clauses to reflect the renewed citizenship flexibility.
The bill still faces third reading in the House and full Senate scrutiny, but observers expect swift passage given the looming judicial deadline. Immigration lawyers advise affected families to gather travel records now so they are ready to file once regulations are published.
