Silhouette of Toronto, Canada, with its famous telecommunications tower
Canada has changed its dual citizenship rules, which expand eligibility criteria. Pledging allegiance to ice hockey, Celine Dion and poutine just became easier for American citizens.
Late last year, the Canadian Government amended the Citizenship Act to grant Canadian citizenship to a broader range of people seeking to obtain dual nationality through their family lineage.
Before the revised law came into force on December 15, the country limited Canadian citizenship to those first generation children from a Canadian parent.
Now, all generations born outside of Canada and with direct Canadian ancestry can become Canadian citizensas long as they have the right documents and comply with the applicable legal provisions.
“Grandchildren can obtain citizenshipand great-grandchildren can also obtain Canadian citizenship, even if they have never set foot in Canada”, he explained to Basil Mohr-Elzekimanaging partner of a company specializing in residence and citizenship planning.
The change is the result of a December 2023 decision by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, which found the imposed limit is unconstitutional to the first generation. The law restores citizenship to people born abroad beyond the first generation.
“This means that, in most cases, it is automatically Canadian citizen if you were born before December 15, 2025, outside of Canada, to a Canadian parent,” the government division responsible for immigration and citizenship states on its website.
apply slightly different criteria to children born after December 15th. To be eligible, the Canadian parent must have passed at least 1095 days in Canada before the birth of the child.
The advantages of dual citizenship
Citizens with dual nationality share many of the same rights and benefits of other Canadians. Some advantages, such as universal access to health care, require residency.
They can live and work in the country, unlike touristswho cannot stay more than six months and must obtain a visa or work permit, in addition to having right to vote and be able to study in the public system of education, paying reduced fees or, in some cases, none at all.
They can also get a passport which guarantees them visa-free entry into countries that do not grant this same exemption to North American citizens, such as China and Belarus. Additionally, depending on the geopolitics of the destination, a Canadian passport may be less polarizing.
“At escala global, Canada is not as exposed not subject to the same pressure as the United States, so having an alternative Canadian passport can clearly be an advantage,” says Mohr-Elzeki. “And if there are travel restrictions on North American passports, they can always take the Canadian passport and travel the world”.
Jacqueline Rose Bartmanaging partner and certified immigration law specialist at a Toronto law firm, notes that requests for information increased when Donald Trump was elected for the first time, in 2016, they soared after being re-elected, in 2024, and rose again in Decemberwhen the Government relaxed citizenship rules.
According to the lawyer, 95% of customers from your office who apply for citizenship under the new law are nationals or citizens of the United States. “This time, it has been absolutely crazy,” said Bart. “It’s been non-stop on immigration, and now with citizenship, it’s been non-stop as well.”
Other countries tighten restrictions
Canada is swim against the current in a context in which several countries are tightening requirements.
Italyto the displeasure of the great-grandchildren of nonnas and nonnos, approved in March 2025 a law that restricts citizenship only to the descendants of a parent or grandparent.
According to the Italian Consulate in Los Angeles, the country grants citizenship to descendant whose parent is an Italian citizenborn in Italy or abroad, and who has lived in Italy for at least two consecutive years before the applicant’s birth, or whose grandfather is an Italian citizen born in Italy.
“Everyone wants this citizenship, but experience shows that the consulate is much more demanding”, notes Mohr-Elzeki. “It is necessary to prove ties with the country”.
Romania also raised the bara, by requiring candidates over 18 to master the national language. For years, Hungary has imposed a requirement strict linguistics, a growing trend in Europe regarding citizenship by descent.
In comparison, Canada is a simple process, especially for applicants with a Canadian ancestor whose documents do not require in-depth genealogical research or a Rosetta Stone to decipher.
Eligible adults can apply online for 75 Canadian dollarsabout 43 euros.
“If you are eligible for any citizenship route by descent, I would suggest moving quickly because It probably won’t get any easier”, says Mohr-Elzeki.
