New 'Lost Canadians' citizenship rules now in place

Automatic Canadian citizenship is now available to individuals born or adopted outside of Canada to a Canadian parent who was also born abroad. These changes address what the government has termed "outdated provisions" in previous citizenship laws that led to people losing or never acquiring citizenship, often referred to as "Lost Canadians."

That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. the new regulations, which took effect on Monday, include specific requirements. The Canadian parent must demonstrate a "substantial connection" to Canada by having lived in the country for at least three years before the birth or adoption of their child.

The policy shift follows a 2023 Ontario court decision that deemed certain parts of the existing law, which limited citizenship by descent, unconstitutional. This ruling was a response to a 2009 law passed by the previous government under Stephen Harper, which had removed the automatic right to citizenship for descendants of Canadians born abroad.

The current Liberal government chose not to appeal the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruling, stating that the previous law resulted in "unacceptable outcomes for children of Canadians who were born outside the country."

While Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has not provided a precise estimate of the number of people who will be affected, they anticipate potentially tens of thousands of applications over time. The Parliamentary Budget Officer, in a 2024 assessment, estimated that approximately 115,000 people could be affected over the next five years.

Prior to the changes being enacted, Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner voiced concerns that the bill could lead to "unfettered citizenship by descent and create untold citizens of convenience." The Conservatives, supported by the Bloc Québécois, had unsuccessfully sought amendments to the bill, advocating for stricter citizenship requirements such as language proficiency and security checks for adult applicants.

One individual who has already benefited from the new rules is Alfie Jones, a British-born football player who was recently recruited to play for Canada in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Jones, according to the Globe and Mail, was able to obtain Canadian citizenship because his grandmother is from Alberta.