You May Already Be Canadian.
We Help You Prove It.

If your parent, grandparent, or any Canadian relative was born in Canada, you may qualify for Canadian citizenship by descent. Marin Immigration Law helps Americans claim their Canadian citizenship through expert legal guidance from licensed immigration lawyers and a professional genealogist who proves your Canadian heritage.
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Are You Eligible?
What Changed?
Who Qualifies Under C3?
Why Claim Citizenship?
Common Scenarios
FAQs for Citizenship

Are You Eligible for Canadian Citizenship by Descent?

Before reading further, answer these four questions.

  1. Was your parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, or an earlier ancestor born in Canada?
  2. Were you (and the relatives between you and that Canadian ancestor) born before December 15, 2025?
  3. Are you connected to that Canadian ancestor through a biological line, not an adoption?
  4. To your knowledge, did everyone in your biological line keep their Canadian citizenship (no formal renunciation)?

If you answered "yes" or "maybe" to these questions, your claim is worth reviewing with a lawyer. 

Marin Immigration Law can assess your chances of success, identify risks in your application and how to protect against refusals, review your documents to identify any gaps that might weaken your application, and provide clear legal advice on how to proceed.

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What Changed?

Before December 15, 2025, Canadian citizenship by descent stopped at the first generation born outside Canada. 

If your parent was born in Canada, you could claim citizenship. If your grandparent was born in Canada, but your parent was born in the United States, you could not claim citizenship.

‍Bill C-3 changed that.

The new law removed the first-generation limit in specific situations, including for many people born outside Canada before December 15, 2025, who would have been citizens if not for the old rule.

In most of those cases, the chain of citizenship can now pass through multiple generations born abroad, as long as the line of descent can be proven.

Learn more in our detailed guide: Bill C-3: Canadian Citizenship by Descent Expanded for Americans.

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Who Qualifies for Canadian Citizenship by Descent Under Bill C-3?

Canadian citizenship by descent depends on your family line. The starting point is your Canadian ancestor, referred to as your “anchor” relative. For many Americans, their Canadian anchor relative is a parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, or earlier ancestor who was born in Canada.

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What About Children Born After
December 15, 2025?

Smiling senior couple holding and playing with a toddler outdoors near a lake and mountains.

If you gain Canadian citizenship through Bill C-3 and later have a child born outside Canada, a forward-looking rule called the substantial connection test applies. 

To pass citizenship to that child, you must show you have spent at least 1,095 days physically in Canada before the child's birth. 

Marin Immigration Law helps build a physical presence record using official travel history from the Canada Border Services Agency.

Why Claim Canadian Citizenship by Descent? 

For many Americans, the citizenship-by-descent claim is about more than just a passport.
Recognized Canadian citizens can:

Live and work in Canada without employer sponsorship or visa restrictions
Study in Canada with access to domestic tuition rates at Canadian universities
Reconnect with Canadian family history and pass that connection forward to the next generation
Purchase property in Canada under the rules that apply to citizens, rather than the federal foreign-buyer ban or provincial foreign-buyer taxes that apply to non-residents
(specific exemptions vary by province)
Pass Canadian citizenship to eligible children, depending on the timing of their birth and the substantial connection rules
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How Marin Immigration Law Handles Your Case

Most Americans worried about Canadian ancestry don't have a clean folder of birth certificates going back four generations. They have a story, a few documents, and a lot of question marks. Our process turns that into an evidence-backed citizenship application.

1.

Paid Legal Consultation

Book a paid legal consultation. You will be paired with a licensed Canadian immigration lawyer from our team. 

They confirm your eligibility, screen for absolute disqualifiers like adoption or formal renunciation, flag weak points in your evidence, and provide you with a clear strategy. 

‍Learn what to expect from your consultation.

2.

Onboarding & Legal Strategy

If you decide to work with us, your immigration lawyer drafts a legal submission letter explaining exactly why you, your children, or any other eligible family members may qualify under Canadian law.

From here, we take full ownership of your file: completing forms, reviewing and gathering documents, and handling all matters as we build your file.

3.

Professional Genealogical Research

Our professional genealogist, Kendra Gaede (PLCGS, BJ, BFA), confirms your Canadian lineage and locates original-source records. 

She retrieves documents directly for your Canadian born relative, great-grandparents and older generations. If a key record is missing, we build a proof argument using census records, baptismal entries, death certificates, and other supporting evidence to demonstrate the lineage on a balance of probabilities.

This professional research is included in the Proof of Canadian Citizenship flat fee.

4.

Review, Submission & Support

Before filing, an independent lawyer on our team who has not worked on your file reviews the application from the perspective of a citizenship officer. This helps catch weak points, missing details, or administrative issues before submission.We then submit the package to the IRCC, handle filing fees and registered mail, and continue supporting you until a decision is made. 

Processing typically takes 12–15 months. If approved, you receive a Canadian citizenship certificate and can apply for a passport, enjoying full rights as a Canadian citizen.

If your flat-fee application is returned as incomplete due to an administrative issue, such as a missing signature, an incorrect photo size, or an incomplete form field, we resubmit it at no additional cost. Coverage for postage, filing fees, and more are all included.

Start the Process

Transparent, Flat-Fee Pricing

Start with a paid consultation with our licensed immigration lawyers, where we review your situation, assess your eligibility, and give you a clear legal strategy.

Our Consultation Process

Initial consult

$300 CAD

Legal consultation with a Canadian Immigration Lawyer

What’s included
30-minute legal consultation
One-on-one with a lawyer
Google Meet
$300 credit for legal services*
Book now!

Deep dive

$500 CAD

Legal consultation with Cédric Marin. Limited availability

What’s included
60-minute legal consultation
One-on-one with a lawyer
Google Meet or in-person
$500 credit for legal services*
Book now!

Proof of Canadian Citizenship

$8,999 CAD

This is an all-inclusive flat fee. No hourly billing or hidden costs, so you know exactly what you are paying before you start.

What’s included
Legal assessment, descent strategy, and complete file preparation by a licensed Canadian citizenship lawyer
In-house staff genealogist and research team who attempt to source both Canadian and American documents, from the ancestor's birth in Canada through each generation of the lineage
All government filing fees
All registered mail, courier, and administrative costs
Formal representation before IRCC (Use of Representative) and handling of all IRCC correspondence
Urgent processing request (if applicable)
50% due at signing, 50% before filing

Additional family members may be added at $3,000 CAD per applicant.

Taxes (if applicable) not included.

*Our credit for legal services applies only to fixed, flat-fee legal services found here. This credit does not apply to limited retainers or services billed on an hourly basis, including file reviews or any other hourly legal services.

Required Documents

A citizenship by descent application is built on a paper trail.

The goal is to prove every parent-child connection between you and your Canadian ancestor. Typical documents may include:

  • Proof that your ancestor was Canadian, such as a Canadian birth certificate
  • Baptismal records for older Canadian ancestors, especially from Quebec
  • Birth certificates for each generation between the Canadian ancestor and you
  • Marriage certificates or name-change records where surnames changed
  • Your government-issued identification
  • A photo that meets IRCC specifications
  • A completed CIT 0001 form for each applicant
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What If a Key Document Is Missing?

Missing records are common in citizenship by descent cases. This is where our in-house genealogist makes the biggest difference.

When a direct record cannot be found, our genealogist can build a proof argument using secondary evidence:

  • Census records
  • Baptismal records
  • Marriage records
  • Death certificates
  • Records from the next generation
  • Historical archive documents

The goal is to show, on a balance of probabilities, that the person in question was born in Canada and that each link in the family line is properly supported. Learn more about our approach if a document is missing.

Common Canadian Citizenship by Descent Scenarios

Your Anchor Relative Was Born in Canada

There is no hard generational limit under Bill C-3 for those born before December 15, 2025. 

Marin Immigration Law has worked on cases tracing seven generations back to the Canadian ancestor. The question is whether the records can be located, not how far back your Canadian lineage goes.

Your Anchor Relative Was Born in Canada and Moved to the U.S.

This is the most common citizenship-by-descent claim. 

Under Bill C-3, both your parent (first generation abroad) and you (second generation abroad) likely qualify, as long as both of you were born before December 15, 2025.

Your Anchor Relative Officially Became a U.S. Citizen

Becoming a U.S. citizen did not strip your Canadian relative of their Canadian citizenship. Historically, becoming a U.S. citizen did strip Canadian citizenship, but this has been fixed and is no longer the case.

Since formal renunciation is a separate legal process, U.S. naturalization (where someone had to swear an oath of allegiance) alone does not constitute official renunciation of Canadian citizenship.

You Are Unsure Whether Your Anchor Relative Was Canadian

You do not need to solve every genealogical question before speaking with a lawyer.

Many clients begin with partial information: a family story, a birth location, an old document, or a name passed down through relatives.

During the consultation, we help identify your most likely anchor relative and determine whether the claim warrants further investigation.

Claim the Canadian Citizenship You Inherited

Don’t let missing records or a complex application process stop you from claiming your Canadian citizenship. Book a consultation with Cédric today for honest legal advice on your citizenship by descent and how to proceed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far back can my Canadian ancestor be?

Bill C-3 removed the previous first-generation limit, meaning you can now claim citizenship even if your Canadian ancestor is your great-great-great-grandparent. It also addressed maternal discrimination and retention requirements. Our consultation will determine whether your specific lineage qualifies under current law.

What if I don't have documents proving my ancestor was Canadian?

That is exactly why we have an in-house genealogist. They will locate baptismal records, census entries, and historical documents to confirm the lineage. Our approach is to take the time needed to build a thorough, well-documented file instead of just submitting what you have on hand.

If I’m adopted, can I claim citizenship by descent through my adoptive Canadian parent(s)?

No. Canadian citizenship by descent flows only through biological lineage. There is a separate process called a "grant of citizenship" for adopted children, but it is complex and often requires home studies, court records, and best-interest assessments. For most adoptive families, including the child as a dependent on a spousal sponsorship application is a more practical path.

What happens if my application is refused?

You remain a U.S. citizen. An unsuccessful citizenship application has no negative impact on your immigration status, your ability to visit Canada, or any future applications you might make (barring fraud, etc). If your application is returned as incomplete (for example, missing a document), we will resubmit it at no additional cost. The downside is limited.

Can I buy property in Canada with Canadian citizenship?

Yes. Canadian citizens are not subject to the foreign buyer restrictions that apply to non-citizens. Dual citizenship also provides unrestricted access to live and work in Canada.

How long does the whole process take?

Our legal preparation typically takes a minimum of four weeks, depending on how quickly genealogical records can be obtained. We prioritize completeness and giving your application the best chance of success, rather than rushing to file. Once submitted, the government takes approximately 12–15 months to render a decision.

Ready to Get Started?

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