How to Apply for a Canadian Passport If You Inherited Citizenship

Did you know that even if you were born outside Canada, you may still be eligible for Canadian citizenship by descent? If one of your parents—or in some cases, grandparents—was a Canadian citizen, you could qualify.

However, before applying for a Canadian passport, you must first prove your citizenship by obtaining a Canadian citizenship certificate.

This guide explains:

• Who can apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate
• How the first-generation limit (FGL) affects citizenship by descent
• How to apply for a discretionary grant of citizenship under interim measures
• And how to apply for a Canadian passport once you’re recognized as a citizen
  
  

Who Qualifies for a Canadian Passport?

All Canadian citizens can apply for a Canadian passport. Having one makes travel smoother and ensures a quick re-entry into Canada.

If you were born outside Canada but have a parent who was born in Canada, you likely qualify for citizenship by descent and can apply for a citizenship certificate to prove it.

However, there’s an important rule to understand — the First-Generation Limit (FGL).

Understanding the First-Generation Limit (FGL)

Under current law, only the first generation of children born abroad to a Canadian citizen are automatically eligible for citizenship by descent.

This means that:

• If your Canadian parent was born in Canada ? You may qualify.
• If your Canadian parent was also born outside Canada and inherited citizenship ? You do not automatically qualify.
  
  

Interim Measures for Those Affected by FGL

In March 2025, the federal government introduced interim measures to help those impacted by the FGL after the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled in 2023 that the limit was unconstitutional.

Until the Citizenship Act is formally amended, affected individuals can apply for a discretionary grant of citizenship under these temporary rules.

You may qualify if you fall under one of these four scenarios:

1. Born or adopted before December 19, 2023, and affected by the FGL
2. Born or adopted on or after December 19, 2023, affected by the FGL, and your Canadian parent meets the “substantial connection to Canada” test (lived at least 1,095 days in Canada before your birth or adoption)
3. Born before April 1, 1949, and affected by the FGL
4. Lost citizenship due to unmet retention requirements under the old Citizenship Act
   
   

How to Apply for a Discretionary Grant of Citizenship

If you fall under one of the above scenarios:

1. Apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate first.
2. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will review your eligibility.
3. If found eligible, you’ll receive an invitation to apply for a discretionary grant under subsection 5(4) of the Citizenship Act.
4. Once approved, you’ll officially become a Canadian citizen and can then apply for your Canadian passport.
   
   

How to Apply for a Canadian Citizenship Certificate

Before applying, visit the Government of Canada website to determine whether to apply online or on paper.

Here’s a simplified process:

Step 1: Get the application package – includes the instruction guide, checklist, and forms.
Step 2: Gather all supporting documents required for your case.
Step 3: Pay the $75 application fee and include your receipt.
Step 4: Submit your application to the location assigned by IRCC based on your residence.

Once approved, you’ll receive your citizenship certificate within approximately seven months.

Note: A citizenship certificate is proof of citizenship, not a travel document. To travel internationally, you’ll need a Canadian passport.

How to Apply for a Canadian Passport

After obtaining your citizenship certificate, you can apply for a five-year or ten-year passport either:

• In person at a Service Canada Centre, or
• By mail, using the application form PPTC 153 (available online or in person).

You’ll need to provide:

• Your Canadian citizenship certificate
• Proof of identity (for example, your foreign passport)
• Two passport photos that meet Canadian standards
• A guarantor and two references
  
  

Passport Fees:

Processing time: Around 10–20 business days from submission.

Proposed Changes to the Citizenship Act (Bill C-3)

In June 2025, the federal government introduced Bill C-3: An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act, which aims to extend citizenship by descent beyond the first generation.

If passed, it would allow citizens by descent to pass their citizenship to their children—provided they meet the substantial connection to Canada test.

As of September 2025, the bill has reached its second reading in Parliament. To become law, it must pass three readings in both the House of Commons and the Senate, followed by Royal Assent.

Final Thoughts

If you were born abroad but have a Canadian parent or grandparent, you might already be entitled to Canadian citizenship by descent.
Start by applying for a citizenship certificate, and if you qualify under the interim measures, you may obtain a discretionary grant of citizenship.

Once you’re recognized as a Canadian citizen, applying for your Canadian passport is straightforward and opens the door to seamless travel worldwide.