New legislation could benefit Indian-origin families with children born outside Canada
Canada has taken a major step toward broadening access to citizenship for families living abroad. Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has introduced Bill C-3, a legislative proposal aimed at expanding Canadian citizenship by descent—offering new hope for Indian diaspora families, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
Bill C-3 lifts the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent, allowing children of Indian-origin Canadians born abroad beyond the first generation to become citizens—if their parent meets residency criteria.
Under the current law, Canadian citizenship by descent is generally restricted to the first generation born outside Canada. Bill C-3 proposes to remove that limit, giving second-generation children born abroad the chance to acquire Canadian citizenship—provided one parent has a meaningful connection to Canada.
This connection is defined as at least 1,095 cumulative days (or three years) of physical presence in Canada prior to the child’s birth or adoption. The move is designed to strengthen the connection between Canadians and their children born overseas, especially among diaspora communities like Indian-origin families.
If passed by both Houses of Parliament and granted Royal Assent, the legislation will enable individuals previously denied due to outdated rules to automatically qualify. The IRCC has assured that details for eligible citizens and the application process will be updated on Canada’s official immigration website.
The Indian diaspora, which makes up one of the largest immigrant groups in Canada, stands to benefit significantly from this change. It provides Indian-origin Canadian parents with a path to extend their national identity to children born in countries like India, the UAE, the UK, or the US—strengthening family and cultural continuity across borders.
