Canada’s federal government will once again miss its original deadline to finalize changes to the Citizenship Act. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has granted a two-month extension for passing Bill C-3, the legislation designed to remove the First-Generation Limit (FGL) on Canadian citizenship, which was declared unconstitutional by the court in 2023.
The new deadline has moved from 20 November 2025 to 20 January 2026. If passed, Bill C-3 will allow Canadians born abroad to pass citizenship to their children born outside Canada, expanding opportunities for families worldwide.
Bill C-3 Could Be Enacted Sooner
Although the deadline has been extended, there is a chance that Bill C-3 could become law before January 2026. Judge Akbarali, in her court decision, acknowledged the government’s progress, stating there is a “reasonable expectation that the replacement legislation may come into force by the end of 2025.”
So far, Bill C-3 has cleared three readings in the House of Commons and two readings in the Senate. It is currently with the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (SOCI), which can propose amendments before it moves forward. Once the bill passes both chambers without changes, it will receive Royal Assent and officially become law.
Interim Measures for Those Affected by FGL
With the extended deadline, interim measures announced in March 2025 remain in place. These allow individuals affected by the FGL to apply for Canadian citizenship through a discretionary grant. Groups eligible under these interim measures include:
- People born or adopted before December 19, 2023, who fall under the FGL.
- Individuals born or adopted on or after December 19, 2023, whose Canadian parent meets the substantial connection test.
- Certain people born before April 1, 1949, affected by the FGL.
- Those who lost citizenship due to previous retention requirements under section 8 of the Citizenship Act.
Eligible individuals can apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate. The IRCC will review applications under these interim measures, and urgent processing may also be requested. However, these measures will only remain effective until Bill C-3 receives Royal Assent.
Will the Government Meet the New Deadline?
This marks the fourth time the federal government has missed a Citizenship Act amendment deadline. While it is uncertain if the January 2026 deadline will be met, this extension is seen as a positive development. Initially, the government had asked for an extension until April 22, 2026 but later revised it to January 20, 2026.
Impact of Passing Bill C-3
Once enacted, Bill C-3 will allow Canadian citizenship by descent to pass through multiple generations, provided the substantial connection test is met. Immigration Minister Diab stated that citizenship applications under Bill C-3 are expected to total tens of thousands over time, primarily benefiting children.
What is Bill C-3?
Introduced on 5 June 2025, Bill C-3 addresses issues caused by the First-Generation Limit (FGL) introduced in 2009. Under the FGL, children born abroad to Canadian citizens who themselves were born abroad did not automatically receive citizenship by descent.
On 19 December 2023, the Ontario Superior Court ruled the FGL unconstitutional, citing violations of mobility rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The government was given six months to amend the law. Bill C-71, a previous attempt, was introduced but ultimately lapsed when Parliament was prorogued in March 2025. Bill C-3 was then proposed as its successor.
