Maple Lineage
Research and records
- Archive and registry searches
- Certified copies of vital records
- A plain-language lineage report
- An organized evidence file
Canadian citizenship by descent
You may already be Canadian. Let's find the proof.
If a parent, grandparent or earlier ancestor was Canadian, the law may already count you as a citizen. We trace your family line in the archives, a licensed representative files for your proof of citizenship, and the passport follows.
- Free check, about two minutes
- No language test, no points score
- A straight answer if your line doesn't qualify
- Law in force
- December 15, 2025
- Generations
- No first-generation cut-off for people born before that date
- Government fee
- $75 for a citizenship certificate
- Your application
- Filed by a licensed representative
What changed
The law used to stop at one generation. It doesn't any more.
For years, Canadian citizenship passed only to the first generation born outside the country. A child born abroad to a Canadian who was also born abroad was usually left out.
On December 15, 2025, Bill C-3 changed that. For people born before that date, citizenship by descent now reaches the second generation born abroad and beyond, as long as the family line holds at every step.
This is not an immigration application. If the law covers you, you are a citizen already. The application is for the certificate that proves it.
- Great-grandparent Born in Canada CitizenCitizen
- Grandparent First generation born abroad CitizenCitizen
- Parent Second generation born abroad Usually cut offCitizen
- You Third generation born abroad Not a citizenCitizen
A simplified picture for people born before December 15, 2025. Every real line is checked against the rules in force at each birth.
On the record
Canada opened this door on purpose.
Nobody slips through a loophole here. Parliament voted to recognize these families as Canadian, and the law gives a citizen by descent the same standing as one born in Toronto.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, November 21, 2025
“It will provide citizenship to people who were excluded by previous laws, and it will set clear rules for the future that reflect how modern families live.”
Citizenship Act, section 6
“A citizen, whether or not born in Canada, is entitled to all rights, powers and privileges”
Charter of Rights and Freedoms, section 6(1)
“Every citizen of Canada has the right to enter, remain in and leave Canada.”
Quoted from the official sources linked above. Maple Lineage is a private company and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Canada.
What the passport stands for
One document.
No more renewal dates.
A permit lets you stay for now. Citizenship is a different kind of status. It doesn't expire, it isn't tied to an employer, and nobody reviews it every few years.
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Status that doesn't expire
No permit dates to track and no extensions to file. Citizenship stays with you for life.
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Work for anyone, anywhere
No employer-specific permit and no labour market assessment. Take any job in any province.
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Leave and return freely
Citizens have a constitutional right to enter Canada. There is no residency rule to keep your status.
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A Canadian passport
A widely accepted travel document, with consular help from Canadian missions abroad.
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A vote
Vote in federal, provincial and local elections, and stand for office yourself.
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Citizenship for your children
Children born in Canada are citizens at birth. Children born abroad can be too, under the 1,095-day rule.
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Keep the citizenship you have
Canada allows dual and multiple citizenship. Check whether your other country does too.
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Work in the United States
Canadian citizens in eligible professions can apply for TN status under the CUSMA trade agreement.
Before and after
From permission to stay, to the right to stay.
Today
On a temporary permit
- Status ends on the date printed on your permit
- Often tied to one employer or one school
- Renewals, fees and waiting, again and again
- No vote and no Canadian passport
- A refused extension can mean leaving
With proof of citizenship
As a Canadian citizen
- Status for life, with nothing to renew
- Any employer, any school, any province
- No more immigration applications
- A vote and a Canadian passport
- The right to stay, set out in the Charter
Until a citizenship certificate is issued, your current status and its conditions still apply. Keep it valid.
The process
Five steps from a family story to a passport.
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Step 01
Free eligibility check
A few questions about your family line. You see an honest preliminary result straight away.
You, about 2 minutes
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Step 02
Family line research
We find your Canadian ancestor in the archives and map every link between them and you.
Maple Lineage
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Step 03
Record retrieval
We obtain certified copies of the records that prove each generation, and resolve gaps and name changes.
Maple Lineage
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Step 04
Advice and application
A licensed representative confirms your eligibility and files for your citizenship certificate with IRCC.
Licensed representative
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Step 05
Your passport
With the certificate in hand, you apply for a Canadian passport like any other citizen.
You
Who does what
Three roles, kept clearly apart.
Canadian law reserves citizenship advice and representation for licensed professionals. You should always know who is doing what, and who answers for it.
Licensed representative
Advice and application
- Confirms whether you qualify
- Prepares and files your application
- Deals with IRCC on your behalf
- Answers to a professional regulator
Government of Canada
Decision and documents
- Reviews the application
- Decides on the evidence
- Issues the citizenship certificate
- Issues your passport
Where we look
The proof is usually out there. It's rarely in one place.
A line of descent is proved with documents, one generation at a time. These are the sources we work through most often.
Parish registers
Baptisms, marriages and burials, often the only record of a birth before civil registration.
Civil registration
Provincial and territorial birth, marriage and death records.
Census returns
Households listed with ages, birthplaces and relationships.
Border and passenger records
Crossings and arrivals that show when a family left or entered Canada.
Naturalization files
Records of when an immigrant ancestor became a citizen.
Military and land records
Service files and land grants that confirm identity and place.
Client stories
What people found.
The genealogy research was detailed and professional. They helped me trace my Canadian family roots and understand the documents I needed for my citizenship and passport application.
Excellent service from start to finish! The team helped me discover my ancestry in Canada and provided clear guidance on finding family records for my citizenship process.
I was impressed by the thorough research and personal support. Finding my family history in Canada felt much easier, and I now have a clearer path toward my citizenship application.
A very helpful and professional experience. The genealogy team guided me through historical records and family documents, helping me take the next steps toward Canadian citizenship.
Questions
Straight answers.
What is citizenship by descent?
It is Canadian citizenship that passes from a Canadian parent to a child born outside Canada. You don't apply to become a citizen. If the law covers you, you already are one. What you apply for is a citizenship certificate, the document that proves it.
What changed on December 15, 2025?
Until then, citizenship by descent generally stopped at the first generation born outside Canada. Bill C-3 removed that cut-off for people born before December 15, 2025. If your Canadian parent was also born abroad, you may now be a citizen through them.
For children born outside Canada on or after that date, a Canadian parent who was also born abroad must have spent at least 1,095 days in Canada before the birth.
I'm already in Canada on a work or study permit. Does this replace my immigration application?
They are separate things. A permit or a permanent residence application asks Canada to let you stay. Proof of citizenship confirms a status you already hold by law, and a citizen needs no permit at all.
Until a citizenship certificate is issued, keep your current status valid and follow its conditions. A licensed representative can advise you on how the two fit together.
What does Maple Lineage actually do?
The research. We find your Canadian ancestor in the archives, obtain certified copies of the records that link each generation, and assemble them into an organized evidence file.
We don't advise you on your eligibility and we don't file your application. A licensed representative does that part.
Can I apply by myself?
Yes. The forms and guides are free on the Government of Canada website, and you never need to hire anyone to apply.
People come to us when the hard part is the evidence: tracking down a great-grandmother's baptism record, or proving that two spellings of a surname belong to the same person.
How much does it cost?
The eligibility check and the first review are free. If your line looks viable, you receive a written quote for the research and records before any paid work starts. The representative's fee for advice and filing is set out in a separate agreement with them.
Government fees go to the government: $75 for a citizenship certificate at the time of writing.
Start here
Find out where your family line leads.
The check is free and takes about two minutes. If your line doesn't qualify, we'll tell you so.