If you are a British citizen with a Canadian parent or grandparent, your rights to a Canadian passport just changed forever.
For years, many families in the UK were told that Canadian citizenship didn’t pass down to children born abroad if the parent was also born abroad. You might have assumed the door was closed.
As of December 2025, that door is open.
A new law (Bill C-3) has changed the rules. It doesn’t matter if your Canadian parent was born in Canada, the UK, or anywhere else—if you have the family connection, you likely have citizenship.
Want the full details? If you want to read the specific legislative changes, read our Comprehensive Guide to Canada’s New Citizenship Rules.
How to Check Your Status
The rules have changed, and many British families are unaware they are now dual citizens.
Do not assume you are ineligible based on old advice. If you have a Canadian parent—or even a grandparent—you should verify your status immediately.
For You: Automatic Citizenship
For almost every adult reading this guide, the new law is retroactive. This means the government effectively erased the old rule that stopped citizenship at the “first generation.”
If you were born outside Canada before December 15, 2025, you do not need to “apply” to become a citizen. You are likely already one.
- The Old Rule: You hit a “brick wall” because your parent was born outside Canada.
- The New Rule: That wall is gone. You are recognized as a Canadian citizen from birth.
What you need to do: You simply need to apply for a Canadian Citizenship Certificate to prove the status you now legally hold.
For Your Children: The “3-Year Rule”
If you are a Canadian living in the UK and you have just had a baby—or plan to start a family in the future—the rules are different for the next generation.
You can still pass your Canadian citizenship down to your children born in the UK after December 15, 2025, but it is no longer automatic. You must meet the “Substantial Connection” requirement.
To pass citizenship to your UK-born child, you (the parent) must prove you have spent at least 1,095 days (roughly 3 years) physically present in Canada before the child was born.
- Did you attend university in Canada?
- Did you work in Toronto or Vancouver for a few years?
- Did you spend your childhood in Canada before moving to the UK?
If the answer is yes, your new baby is likely eligible for Canadian citizenship.
“Does This Affect My British Citizenship?”
No. This is the most common question we get.
Canada and the UK both allow dual citizenship. Claiming your Canadian passport does not mean you have to give up your British passport. You get to keep both.
It simply gives you the option to live, work, or retire in Canada whenever you want, without needing a visa.
