Canadian Citizenship by Descent: Next Steps
Because your lineage traces back to a Canadian-born or naturalized Canadian ancestor, the new law recognizes the entire chain of descent.
You can find a detailed breakdown of these legislative changes and how they apply to your family here:
Claiming Canadian Citizenship by Descent Under Bill C-3
Strategic Considerations for Your Application
Should you wish to proceed with professional guidance and hands-on assistance with preparing and submitting your application, we would be more than happy to assist. Our objective would be to move forward with paper-based applications for yourself and any interested family members to secure Canadian citizenship, providing a clear legal path to status and Canadian passports.
Roadmap to Citizenship and Passports
Stage | Objective | Est. Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Evidence Audit | Review of all primary and secondary evidence | Approx. 4 weeks (from full doc receipt) |
| 2. Formal Filing | Physical submission of the paper-based application | 2 weeks |
| 3. IRCC Processing | Managing all correspondence and government tracking | 12-15 months |
| 4. Certification & Passport | Issuance of Citizenship Certificate and passport assistance | 2–4 weeks |
Please Note: While processing is currently estimated at 12-15 months, timelines may increase due to the high volume of applications under this new law.
We understand that the path to Canadian citizenship and residency involves many moving parts. To learn more about various topics related to your personal circumstances and securing Canadian citizenship — such as spousal or common-law sponsorship, residency requirements, adoption, and more — see our Bill C3 Citizenship By Descent FAQ Hub here.
Quebec Ancestry?
If your ancestor was born in Quebec, we recommend beginning the process of obtaining the relevant birth records as early as possible, as these can take time. Please see our Guide to Obtaining Quebec Birth Records for step-by-step instructions.
Why Legal Representation Matters
Securing historical records and navigating the nuances of the Citizenship Act requires precision. We focus on having your applications “decision-ready” to bypass the delays and refusal rates common with self-representation.
- Expert Documentation: Every program has a precise, evolving document checklist. A missing letter, an improperly certified copy, or a document that fails to meet exact specifications is a common reason for an application to be rejected as incomplete.
- Legal Advocacy: Eligibility is not just a checklist; it is a matter of administrative law. Professional representation ensures you choose the strongest legal argument for your specific case and helps you navigate complex program requirements.
- Paper-Based Filing: We avoid the online portal because its restrictive file limits do not allow for the detailed family trees and high-resolution documents your case requires. A physical filing allows us to present a comprehensive legal argument via sworn affidavits.
- Risk Mitigation: The statistical reality of the increasing complexity of IRCC processing is that applicants who represent themselves dramatically increase their risk of refusal.
Professional Standing & Success Overview
- 35+ Years of Standing: Our firm brings a combined wealth of expertise, with our principal lawyer, and founder of immigration.ca, Colin Singer, a member of the Barreau du Québec since 1988.
- Global Scale: Since 1994, our firm has served thousands of clients, giving us a “technical memory” of IRCC patterns that is vital for complex lineage cases.
- Proven Success: We maintain a near-perfect success rate. You can view our client references here: https://immigration.ca/recommendations (Password: Canada1234).
Professional Fees
Option A — Individual Applicant
The following professional fee rate applies to individual applicants:
- First Applicant: $3,250 USD
- Retainer: A deposit of $2,000 USD is required to commence (representing the first of two installments).
The above excludes all applicable government processing fees outlined below, as well as a disbursement of $100 USD for printing and couriering the finalized application package to the relevant immigration authorities. Further, as a reminder, your consultation fee will be fully credited toward the initial retainer.
Option B — Family Group Option (2+ Applicants)
Should other eligible family members choose to proceed alongside you, we are pleased to offer discounted rates for applications where two or more individuals apply based on the same anchor relative.
| Category | Details | Professional Fee (Per Applicant) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Applicant | First family member | $3,250 USD |
| All Subsequent Applicants | 2nd, 3rd, 4th member, etc. | $2,500 USD |
| Retainer (Initial Deposit) | Required to commence | $1,850 USD |
The above excludes all applicable government processing fees outlined below, as well as a disbursement of $100 USD (per applicant) for printing and couriering the finalized application package to the relevant immigration authorities. Further, as a reminder, your consultation fee will be fully credited toward the initial retainer.
Note: Additional discounts are applied for families of 10 or more applicants. We offer preferred group rates to support a coordinated and cost-effective approach for larger family applications.
Family Bundle Eligibility Window: We understand that it takes time for families to coordinate and reach a final decision. If your application process has already begun and additional family member(s) decide they would like to join your mandate, please contact us at info@immigration.ca. We will assess these requests on a case-by-case basis, as our ability to include new applicants under a family bundle rate depends on where your family’s file currently stands within our internal preparation and submission timeline.
Government Fees
| Fee Type | Adult | Child (Under 16) |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship Certificate | $75 CAD * | $75 CAD * |
| 5-year Passport | $122.50 / $194.25 CAD * | $58.50 / $102.50 CAD * |
| 10-year Passport | $163.50 / $266.25 CAD * | N/A |
* All fees are subject to change. In-Canada and outside-Canada rates differ — amounts shown as In-Canada / Outside-Canada.
Next Steps
1. Review Overview:
Please review the details above outlining your eligibility, roadmap to securing Canadian citizenship and how we can support you moving forward.
2. Request Agreement:
Should you decide to move forward, please let us know.
- Option A: If you would like to proceed as a single applicant, please click here to access our intake portal.
- Option B: If you would like to proceed alongside other eligible family members, please click here to access our family intake portal.
3. Onboarding:
Once you have made your selection, we will provide you with the next steps to sign your Service Agreement and a secure link to pay our initial retainer fee. This will allow us to finalize your file opening and begin the preparation of your application(s).