My American parent never had a Canadian passport. Can I still claim Canadian citizenship?

August 4, 2026 · WOWERI

As of December 15, 2025, Canada's citizenship law has changed. You may now be eligible for Canadian citizenship even if your parent never had a Canadian passport. Learn more about the changes and what you need to do.

Changes in Canada's Citizenship Law

One of the most common misconceptions about Canada's citizenship by descent law is that your parent must have been born in Canada or have held a Canadian passport for you to be eligible for Canadian citizenship. However, as of December 15, 2025, when Bill C-3 came into effect, this is no longer the full picture.

What has changed?

Bill C-3 removed the requirement that a parent must have held a Canadian passport or be a native-born Canadian to pass on citizenship by descent.

How does it work?

You may now be eligible for Canadian citizenship if your parent was a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth, regardless of whether they held a Canadian passport or not.

What to do?

If you believe you may be eligible for Canadian citizenship under the new rules, you will need to apply for citizenship.

Source: cicnews.com