About this site

Purpose of this site

The Canadian Citizenship by Descent Checker is a free, independent tool that helps people find out whether they may be Canadian citizens through a parent or grandparent. For years, a "first-generation limit" cut off citizenship for those born abroad to a Canadian who was also born abroad — leaving many people unsure of their status.

Bill C-3 changes this by restoring and extending citizenship by descent beyond the first generation through a substantial-connection test. This tool walks you through the key questions so you can see whether you likely qualify before navigating IRCC's complex rules.

How it works

The checker runs entirely in your browser. It asks about where you and your Canadian parent or grandparent were born, and applies the descent rules and the Bill C-3 substantial-connection framework. Citizenship by descent is highly fact-specific, so the result is a starting point, not a determination.

Independent and neutral

This is an independently operated site that builds simple tools to remove the friction from complex immigration rules. We are not affiliated with IRCC or any government agency, and the checker does not collect or store your answers — everything is processed locally in your browser.

Before you rely on it

The result is an informational estimate, not legal advice, and is not an IRCC determination. Bill C-3's rules and timelines are evolving. Please review our disclaimer and confirm with IRCC or a licensed citizenship lawyer.