CIMM – Bill Comparison Chart – October 2, 2025
[Redacted] appears where sensitive information has been removed in accordance with the principles of the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.
Access to citizenship by descent for persons born abroad: Bill S-245 (at Second Reading, as amended by CIMM) and Bill C-3
Bottom Line Upfront:
- When initially introduced, Bill S-245 aimed to address the remaining Section 8 Lost Canadians and seemed to push the application of the first-generation limit from April 17, 2009, to June 11, 2015.
- Through the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM), several amendments were made to extend citizenship by descent to people born after April 16, 2009, in the second generation or beyond if their Canadian parent could demonstrate a substantial connection to Canada before the birth of the child (1,095 days [3 years] cumulative physical presence in Canada).
- A similar scheme applied to children adopted abroad by Canadians to ensure that these two cohorts were treated as similarly as possible.
- Bill C-3 considers the work the House of Commons and Senate had done on Bill S-245, while more comprehensively addressing the issues raised by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, which declared key provisions of the first-generation limit unconstitutional.
- Specifically, it addresses those impacted by the first-generation limit, including the descendants of Lost Canadians remedied in 2009 and 2015, regardless of when they were born, and the remaining Section 8 Lost Canadians.
- Similar to Bill S-245, C-3 proposes a requirement of 1,095 cumulative days (three years) of physical presence in Canada by a parent before the birth abroad or adoption of their child born abroad to access citizenship beyond the first generation.
- In this way, like Bill S-245, Bill C-3 seeks to protect the value of citizenship by limiting the ability of citizens by descent born abroad in the first generation and beyond to pass on Canadian citizenship to their child born abroad unless they have established and maintained a connection to Canada.
- The main difference is the date on which this requirement is imposed. Under S-245, it was imposed on those born after April 16, 2009, which would mean people would need to meet the requirement retroactively. Under C-3, it would not apply to those born before the bill becomes law. The requirement of 1,095 cumulative days of physical presence in Canada by a parent before the birth or adoption abroad is only a requirement for those born on or after the bill becomes law.
- Like S-245, C-3 does not impose any security screening on this cohort of citizens by descent because, like all citizens by descent today, they are born citizens and are not subject to screening. Additionally, they are largely low risk:
- born after 2009 and still a minor under 16 years old in 2025; and,
- children born abroad on a go forward basis.
- Lost Canadians (adults) remedied by the 2009 and 2015 amendments were also not subject to security screening, and C-3 continues with this approach.
- The table shows the evolution of S-245 from Second Reading to CIMM, and highlights the key similarities and differences to Bill C-3.
- Bill C-3 substantively mirrors Bill C-71, which contained a few technical provisions to ensure alignment with Bill S-17 Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment, which died upon prorogation of Parliament. These provisions have been removed from Bill C-3 as they are no longer needed.
| Affected cohorts | Bill S-245 (at Second Reading) | Treatment under Bill S-245 (as amended by CIMM) | Treatment under Bill C-3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Section 8 |
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Equivalent to S-245 (as amended by CIMM)
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Persons born abroad beyond the first generation to a Canadian citizen parent |
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Other than the Section 8 Lost Canadians, Bill S-245 would not extend citizenship to anyone who was born abroad beyond the first generation if they were born before April 16, 2009. As a result, it excluded descendants of remedied Lost Canadians whose status was previously restored by the 2009 or 2015 legislative amendments. [Redacted] |
More comprehensive than Bill S-245 (as amended by CIMM)
The intent of the new legislation is to address the long-standing issue of Lost Canadians as well as those who would have been a Canadian citizen had it not been for the first-generation limit introduced in 2009. |
International adoptees |
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More inclusive than Bill S-245
This will, as much as is possible, equalize the treatment of those born abroad to a Canadian citizen parent and those adopted abroad by a Canadian citizen parent, both before and after the bill is law. |
Those who become citizens who do not wish to be |
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More streamlined access than Bill S-245
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All Canadian citizens |
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Equivalent to Bill S-245 (at Second Reading and as amended by CIMM)
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Canadian citizens by way of grant |
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Equivalent to Bill S-245 (as amended by CIMM)
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All persons affected by the changes |
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More expedient than Bill S-245 (as amended by CIMM)
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