Bill C-3 reopened Canadian citizenship to children, grandchildren, and earlier descendants of Canadian-born ancestors. We have filed proof-of-citizenship applications for fifty years, and we're filing these cases now.
Step 1 of 4
Your Canadian connection
Start with the Canadian relative in your lineage.
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Citizenship by descent
One Canadian ancestor is all it takes.
Bill C-3 restored citizenship retroactively to families previously cut off by the first-generation limit. Any one of these, born in Canada, puts you in the line.
You.
Your parent.
Your grandparent.
Your great-grandparent.
Born in Canada.
Born in Canada
You are a citizen, full stop. We help you secure your citizenship certificate and a Canadian passport.
Bill C-3, in forceDec 15, 2025
Canadian grandparent or further back.
Cut off by the first-generation limit. Citizenship was restored retroactively. You don't apply for citizenship; you file for recognition of the citizenship you already have.
Counsel.
Senior attorneys at Cohen Immigration Law, supported by paralegals, regulated immigration consultants, and case managers.
Daniel Levy
Senior Attorney
McGill Faculty of Law. Citizenship, business immigration, and complex eligibility files. Listed in Who’s Who Legal, Corporate Immigration.
Bar. Barreau du Québec
Ala Bujac
Senior Attorney, Director of Operations
McGill Faculty of Law (BCL/LLB/LLM). MBA, Grenoble. Oversees firm-wide case management.
Bar. Law Society of Ontario
Gabriel Dumitrascu
Senior Attorney
Université de Montréal. Director, Avocats hors Québec. Federal and Quebec economic immigration, family reunification.
Bar. Barreau du Québec
Olivia Cohen
Immigration Attorney
McGill Faculty of Law (BCL/JD). McGill Desautels (B. Comm). Inadmissibility, business and economic immigration.
Bar. Barreau du Québec
Professional memberships and affiliations
How we work.
Four steps from your first call to a citizenship certificate.
01
Free consultation
A 15-minute call with an attorney to confirm eligibility, scope, and fee. No charge, no obligation.
02
Document gathering
We tell you which records you need and which you don't. We can request Quebec records on your behalf.
03
Lawyer-drafted application
Your file is drafted and filed with IRCC by your assigned attorney.
04
Citizenship certificate
IRCC issues your certificate. Your spouse, children, and grandchildren apply next.
What you'll pay, and when.
Fees depend on how many applicants are on the file and how far back the Canadian ancestor sits. We quote after the first call.
01The first call
First call is on us.
A 15-minute consultation with a senior attorney is free. We confirm eligibility, scope the file, and quote a fixed fee before you commit.
One quoted fee covers your file from intake to certificate. No hourly billing, no surprise line items.
What that covers
Document strategy and the records list for your case
Quebec parish-register and provincial-archive requests
Application drafting and filing with IRCC
Ongoing case management until your certificate issues
Common questions.
Six questions US clients ask before the first consultation. Anything specific to your file is for the call.
How long does a citizenship by descent application take?
IRCC's current processing time for a proof-of-citizenship application is more than 12 months. Your assigned attorney will give you a tighter estimate after reviewing your records.
Do I have to give up my US citizenship?
No. Canada permits dual citizenship and the United States permits dual citizenship under current law. Confirming Canadian citizenship by descent does not require renouncing US citizenship.
Can my children and grandchildren also get citizenship?
In most cases, yes. Once your Canadian citizenship is confirmed, your children and grandchildren may file their own proof-of-citizenship applications using your record as the anchor. Bill C-3 removed the first-generation limit; descent now passes through additional generations, subject to a physical-presence test for second-generation children born on or after December 15, 2025.
What documents will I need from my Canadian ancestor?
You'll need proof of your ancestor's Canadian birth: a long-form birth certificate or baptismal record. If they naturalized later, naturalization papers. Then the chain linking you to them: marriage certificates, your parents' birth records, your own birth certificate. Quebec parish registers and other archival sources fill in gaps. We tell you the full list after the first call.
What if my parent or grandparent never claimed Canadian citizenship?
Their not claiming citizenship does not extinguish yours. Canadian citizenship by descent attaches by operation of law to anyone who meets the statutory criteria; claiming it is a separate, optional act.
How does the Bill C-3 change affect my case?
Bill C-3 commenced on December 15, 2025 and removed the first-generation limit. If your Canadian-born ancestor is a great-grandparent or further back, and you were told before that you didn't qualify, you may qualify now. The 1,095-day physical-presence test applies only to second-generation children born on or after the commencement date.
Request a consultation
Talk to a senior immigration lawyer.
Tell us about your Canadian ancestor and how to reach you. A senior attorney will call within one or two business days.
