You may already be a Canadian citizen — and not know it.
Bill C‑3 retroactively removed the limit on citizenship by descent. If a Canadian parent, grandparent, or earlier ancestor appears anywhere in your family tree, you may have a confirmable claim today — while keeping your US citizenship and staying right where you are.
- Keep your US citizenship
- No obligation to relocate
- Licensed Ontario law firm
- Helped hundreds of families
Disclaimer: this page provides general information only, not legal advice. Submitting an inquiry does not create a solicitor-client relationship.
Bill C-3 removed the “first-generation limit.”
For years, Canadian citizenship by descent was capped at the first generation born outside Canada. That ceiling has been lifted. Under the new framework, citizenship can flow through multiple generations — reaching second-, third-, even fourth-generation descendants of Canadian citizens, and beyond.
Because the change applies retroactively, many people who were previously told they were ineligible — or who never realized they had a claim — may already be Canadian citizens from the moment of their birth. They simply need to confirm that citizenship through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Nanua & Ioffe is a licensed Ontario law firm that works directly with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on citizenship files. We’ve walked hundreds of families through the citizenship-confirmation process — from initial assessment to genealogical evidence gathering to the final application package.
A second citizenship that expands your life — without changing it.
Confirming Canadian citizenship is not a relocation decision. It’s an option you hold for the rest of your life — one you can use or simply keep in reserve.
Keep your US citizenship
Canada permits dual citizenship. Confirming Canadian status does not affect your US passport, voting rights, Social Security, or tax status with the IRS.
Sponsor your family
As a citizen, you can sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or dependent children for Canadian permanent residence.
A more powerful passport
A Canadian passport gives you visa-free access to 180+ destinations — making it one of the world’s most powerful travel documents.
Live, work, study in Canada
Canadian citizens can move to Canada any time, take any job, study at in-province tuition rates, and access public healthcare upon establishing residency.
Plan ahead for the next generation
Under Bill C-3, citizenship can flow further down the family tree than before. For children born or adopted abroad on or after December 15, 2025, the Canadian parent must show a substantial connection to Canada — confirming your own status now is the first step in understanding your family’s options.
Act before delays grow
IRCC application volumes are rising. Processing times have already increased, and well-prepared applications continue to move through fastest.
We handle everything on your behalf.
Citizenship-by-descent applications fail most often for boring reasons: a missing certified copy, an incomplete genealogical chain, an outdated form revision, a translation that didn’t meet IRCC standards. Returned applications add months — sometimes years — to the timeline.
Our citizenship team works directly with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has helped hundreds of families confirm their status, and shoulders the paperwork so you don’t have to.
- Licensed Ontario law firm. Practicing and serving citizenship-by-descent clients globally.
- Regulated immigration professionals. Licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) and the Law Society of Ontario.
- Experienced before IRCC. We know the evidence standards, the current forms, and the common rejection reasons.
- End-to-end representation. From initial assessment and genealogical research to document collection, certification, and final submission.
From first question to citizenship certificate.
A focused, paid consultation up front means a properly built application — and the best chance of approval without avoidable delays.
Paid consultation
Meet with a licensed professional to map your family tree, identify the qualifying Canadian ancestor, and confirm the right pathway under the new rules.
Evidence & preparation
You can gather the supporting documents yourself, or have our genealogist help source genealogical records, certified copies, and translations that meet IRCC standards.
Submission & follow-through
We file your application, monitor IRCC correspondence, respond to requests, and walk you through what happens after approval.
What citizenship clients say about the firm.
“My siblings and I believed we were candidates for Canadian Citizenship by Descent under section 3 of the Citizenship act, yet we grew less certain as we studied the Application for Citizenship Certificate for Adults and Minors. We were confused by application questions we felt didn't apply to us. Plus we were cowed by warnings we had read online that an error in filing could be grounds for refusal. We knew we needed help, and began to interview lawyers. It was touch-and-go until we scheduled a 50-minute consultation with Mark Lembersky, RCIC-IRB via Nanua and Ioffe's website. Mark listened to our concerns, answered our questions, and provided us with a well-informed overview of Canada's Citizenship Act. Mark's experience and insights, as well as his professional and kind demeanor, were what my siblings and I needed to move forward on our goal. The process of working with Mark and his colleague, Aleksandr Ti, has been a very positive one for us. The client onboarding was smooth. The application process was clear to us. We felt proud to be represented by such an elegant document in our application for Canadian citizenship.”
“After thoroughly reviewing numerous consulting organizations specializing in ancestry immigration, I am pleased that we found Nanua and Ioffe. I worked with Mark Lembersky and Aleksander Ti on our proof of citizenship. Mark was great providing an overview and strategy for the process. With that, Aleksander expertly navigated the application for us. I greatly appreciate the knowledge, clarity, and professionalism they extended us as we went through this process. We look forward to collaborating with them again as other friends and family members navigate this process. Thanks!”
“I had a brief consultation with Mark about Canadian Citizenship, he was very helpful and knowledgeable”
“Excellent and thorough advice during consultation. Look forward to working with Nanua & Ioffe!”
“We had an excellent experience working with Mark Lembersky and Aleksandr Ti throughout the entire ancestry citizenship application process for our family of eight in the US! From the very beginning, they guided us step-by-step and made what could have been an overwhelming process, especially with so many family members, feel organized and manageable. They were very thorough in explaining exactly what documents and information we needed, and they were always quick to respond whenever we had questions. Their knowledge and attention to detail gave us a lot of confidence throughout the process. We truly appreciated their support and would highly recommend them to anyone seeking help with Canadian citizenship applications or immigration matters.”
“Our questions were all answered and he was very helpful! Highly recommend.”
“I scheduled a 25 minute initial consultation with Nanua & Ioffe after unsuccessfully using the Canadian Government website to determine: 1) Whether I were eligible to apply for a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship and 2) The specific process and required documentation to apply. Scheduling and paying for the consultation was easy and professional and I received several advance reminders about the appointment. Mark at N&I was extremely helpful, explained the legal changes in Canadian citizenship, and had all the information necessary for me to complete the application myself. There was no "upsell" or appeal for additional unnecessary services.”
“The person I talked to was friendly and professional. Very knowledgeable and helpful! I am glad that I made an appointment with them!”
“Excellent introduction to the firm. Professional, friendly, and thorough.”
“They made the process of getting my citizenship easy and seamless. A+++”
“Mark Lembersky was GREAT! Mom and I are dual citizens, and needed paperwork to prove it. Mark was so patient, always following up with all our questions. Trying to get our citizenship papers in these times seemed daunting for us. Mark made it ALL happen. So happy to have him in our corner!”
Source: verified Google reviews of Nanua & Ioffe Lawyers (read all reviews on Google). Past results are not a guarantee of future outcomes.
Questions families ask before they apply.
General information about Canadian citizenship by descent under Bill C-3. For a definitive answer about your specific situation, book a paid consultation.
Canadian citizenship by descent means you became a Canadian citizen automatically at birth because of a Canadian parent — or, under Bill C-3, a Canadian grandparent, great-grandparent, or earlier ancestor. You don’t apply for citizenship in the way a new immigrant would; you apply to confirm a status you may already have.
Before Bill C-3, Canadian citizenship by descent generally stopped at the first generation born outside Canada. Bill C-3 removes that “first-generation limit,” retroactively, so that citizenship can flow through multiple generations of descendants of a Canadian citizen. Many people who were previously told they had no claim — or who never explored the question — may now qualify.
No. There is no residency requirement to hold Canadian citizenship by descent. You can continue to live in the United States, or anywhere else, and remain a Canadian citizen. Many of our clients use Canadian citizenship as a long-term option rather than an immediate relocation plan. Note that for children born or adopted abroad on or after December 15, 2025, a Canadian parent who also obtained citizenship by descent generally must show a substantial connection to Canada — at least 1,095 days of physical presence — before the rules allow citizenship to pass to that child. We assess exactly how this applies to your family during the consultation.
No. Canada explicitly permits dual citizenship. You will not need to renounce US citizenship to confirm Canadian status.
Under Bill C-3, the eligibility window now reaches well beyond just a Canadian parent. A grandparent, great-grandparent, or even earlier Canadian ancestor may establish your claim, depending on the chain of citizenship from that ancestor down to you. The specifics are case-by-case — gathering your family tree is the first step we take during the paid consultation.
Everything that is required to put together a clean, IRCC-compliant application. That includes assessing eligibility, mapping the family tree, sourcing and certifying documents (birth, marriage, naturalization, death records), arranging translations, completing all current IRCC forms, submitting the application, and responding to any requests from IRCC during processing.
IRCC processing times have increased meaningfully in recent years and vary based on caseload and how complete the application is. A well-prepared package — with every required document, correctly certified and translated — is the single most reliable way to keep your file out of the “returned for incompleteness” queue, which is where most delays actually originate.
Under the new framework, citizenship by descent can flow further down the family tree than before. Confirming your own status now is generally the prerequisite to securing the same option for your children and grandchildren. Specific outcomes depend on the facts of your case.
No — not unless your spouse or common-law partner has Canadian ancestry of their own. The first step is to confirm your own Canadian citizenship. From there, as a Canadian citizen you may be able to sponsor your spouse or common-law partner for Canadian permanent residency through a separate process. We can explain both pathways during your consultation.
A Canadian citizenship certificate is a legal document that proves Canadian citizenship. With it, you can apply for a Canadian passport, work in Canada without a permit, study at in-province tuition rates, and access public healthcare upon establishing residency in a province or territory. The certificate is not itself a travel document — a Canadian passport is.
Generally, Canadian income tax is based on residency, not citizenship. Confirming Canadian citizenship while continuing to live in the United States does not, by itself, make you a Canadian tax resident. Cross-border tax is its own specialty — we’re happy to refer you to a qualified cross-border tax professional if your situation calls for it.
Talk to a licensed professional.
The fastest way forward is a focused, paid consultation: a licensed immigration professional maps your family tree, confirms your pathway under Bill C-3, and tells you exactly what your application needs.
A 25-minute working session with a licensed immigration professional to assess your eligibility and the documentation your file will require.