These five famous Americans will become Canadian citizens, thanks to a new citizenship law

Some famous Americans— including Madonna and Hillary Clinton—will be considered Canadian citizens under a new law.

On November 20, Bill C-3: An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025) was passed by the Canadian federal government, removing the first-generation limit (FGL) to citizenship by descent.

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This new law grants Canadian citizenship to those who would have otherwise been ineligible due to the FGL.

Here’s a look at some famous Americans who will become Canadian citizens.

Madonna

Singer-songwriter Madonna Louise Ciccone was born in Bay City, Michigan, and currently only holds US citizenship.

Her father, Silvio Anthony Ciccone, is a first generation American of Italian descent, and her mother—Madonna Louise Fortin—was of French-Canadian descent.

Madonna’s maternal ancestors immigrated to present-day Quebec from the Perche region in the 17th century, making Madonna a Canadian citizen following Bill C-3 coming into force.

Viggo Mortensen

Viggo Mortensen, best known for his roles as Aragorn in the “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and Tony in “Green Book," will soon become a Canadian citizen.

Mortensen was born in New York City to an American mother (Grace Gamble) and a Danish father (Viggo Peter Mortensen Sr.).

His right to Canadian citizenship comes through his grandfather on his mother’s side—Walter Sydney Atkinson—who was born in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia.

As of now, Mortensen currently holds dual citizenship of the US and of Denmark.

Lily Collins

Actress and model Lily Collins, daughter of UK musician Phil Collins and US antique store owner Jill Tavelman, was born in England and moved to Los Angeles at age five.

She currently holds dual citizenship of the UK and the US, and will be a Canadian citizen following Bill C-3 coming into effect.

While neither of her parents were born in Canada, her maternal grandfather, Jack Tavelman, was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba—and later moved to the US, where he owned a men’s clothing store in Beverly Hills, California.

Hillary Clinton

Currently only holding US citizenship, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be considered a Canadian citizen following Bill C-3 coming into force.

Both she and her parents were born in the US, but if you dig deeper into her ancestral history, Clinton (born Hillary Diane Rodham) has Quebec roots that date back to New France.

Her maternal grandmother, Della Murray, comes from a large family that had French-Canadian roots, according to Clinton’s 2003 memoir “Living History.” Her matrilineal line goes all the way back to Jeanne Ducorps, who came to Quebec as a Filles du Roi.

These family ties also make Clinton a distant relative of other well-known Canadians such as Justin Trudeau, Celine Dion, Madonna, and Angelina Jolie.

Jack White

Popular singer-songwriter, guitarist, and drummer Jack White (born John Anthony Gillis) is an American citizen, born in Detroit, Michigan.

Both his parents were born in Michigan. His mother was of Polish descent, while his father was of Scottish-Canadian descent.

His ancestral ties to Canada will make him a Canadian citizen when Bill C-3 comes into effect.

White’s paternal grandfather, Frank Gillis, was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, and his paternal grandmother (Florence May MacIsaac) was born in Boston to Canadian parents from Inverness, Nova Scotia.

About Bill C-3

The FGL, introduced to the Citizenship Act in 2009, limits citizenship by descent to the first generation, making children born outside Canada to Canadian citizens by descent unable to inherit Canadian citizenship.

In response, Bill C-3, “An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025),” was introduced in 2025.

Bill C-3 grants citizenship to those affected by the FGL to citizenship by descent, and moving forward would allow Canadian citizens by descent to pass on their citizenship by descent, subject to a substantial connection to Canada test.

It’s worth noting that while Bill C-3 has become law, the date when the law will come into force has yet to be announced.

Interim measures

Until Bill C-3 comes into effect, Canada’s interim measures remain in place.

These interim measures were announced in March of 2025 to support those affected by FGL until Bill C-3 comes into effect.

That means that any of the celebrities mentioned above—as well as others affected by Canada’s FGL—can currently submit an online application for Canadian proof of citizenship.

Those applying using the interim measures will not have to re-apply when the new rules come into effect.

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