Changes to Canada’s Citizenship Act: What You Need to Know

Hello, future Canadian citizens! Are you wondering about the latest updates to Canada’s Citizenship Act? Well, you’re in the right place! The Ontario Superior Court has extended the deadline for important changes to the law regarding citizenship for children born outside Canada to April 25, 2025.

To give you a bit of background, since 2009, children born outside of Canada to a Canadian parent who obtained their citizenship by descent haven't been able to inherit Canadian citizenship. This is known as the first-generation limit (FGL). But don’t worry; there’s more on the horizon!

The Court recently ruled that the FGL is unconstitutional, as it creates a second class of citizenship based on where one is born. The government introduced a bill, Bill C-71, to make some changes, but it didn’t become law.

If you’re affected, IRCC has put some interim measures in place. You can apply for discretionary grants of citizenship and enjoy prioritized processing. Isn’t that a relief?

Stay tuned for updates, as a hearing is set for April 11, 2025! We’ll keep you posted on how this affects your Canadian citizenship journey.