Lost Canadians Bill: New Citizenship Law Restores Rights for Second-Gen Canadians
After years of legal battles and parliamentary debates, Canada has finally passed groundbreaking legislation that restores citizenship rights to thousands of people known as "Lost Canadians." Bill C-3 received royal assent on November 21, 2025, marking a significant milestone in fixing what courts deemed an unconstitutional approach to citizenship by descent.
The new law addresses a critical gap that left children born abroad to Canadian parents—who were themselves born outside Canada—unable to claim Canadian citizenship. This change affects families worldwide who maintain strong ties to Canada but were previously excluded due to outdated rules.