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In depth
The Citizenship Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-29) is the principal Canadian citizenship law, originally enacted in 1947 (the first Canadian Citizenship Act) and replaced by the current Act in 1977. It has been amended multiple times, most recently by Bill C-71 (2025).
The Citizenship Act governs: (1) citizenship by birth (jus soli in Canada), (2) citizenship by descent (jus sanguinis, with the substantial connection test under Bill C-71), (3) naturalization (3-5 years residency), (4) citizenship revocation, and (5) renunciation.
Key sections: Section 3(1)(a) (citizenship by birth in Canada), Section 3(1)(b) (citizenship by descent), Section 3(1)(e) (naturalization), Section 5 (grant of citizenship), Section 9 (loss of citizenship), Section 11 (renunciation).
Related terms
Bill C-71 (Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, 2025) is the Canadian law that restored citizenship to beyond-first-generation descendants of Canadians born abroad.
IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) is the Canadian government department that processes citizenship applications.
A 'Lost Canadian' is a person who lost or never received Canadian citizenship due to outdated provisions of the Citizenship Act, now eligible for reinstatement under Bill C-71.
The substantial connection test is the Bill C-71 requirement that beyond-first-generation descendants of Canadians born abroad have 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada.