American parents are securing Canadian citizenship by descent for their kids. Here is what it gets them

Since Bill C-3 became a law on December 15, 2025, millions of Americans have found they qualify for Canadian citizenship by descent. That has led to a surge of applications for Canadian citizenship certificates, in many cases even when applicants have no intention of moving to Canada.

There are multiple reports of parents, in particular, applying to prove Canadian citizenship with the intention of securing that status for their children.

That eligibility can come through either parent's lineage and go back several generations, but the result is the same: more options for their children.

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For the children who are now eligible for Canadian citizenship through their ancestry, here's a look at some of the real, practical advantages.

Lower tuition and less student debt

Canadian universities charge international students several times what they charge citizens, and that gap adds up fast.

According to Statistics Canada's 2025/2026 figures, the average annual gap between international and domestic undergraduate tuition is roughly CAD$34,000 (or USD24,000) nationally, and can be more in provinces like Ontario.

Multiplied across a four-year degree, that's well over $130,000 (or USD 92,000) in potential savings, before even factoring in the lower interest that accrues on a loan over time.

Once a child can prove Canadian citizenship, they may be assessed as a Canadian student rather than an international student, subject to the university’s and province’s fee rules.

Provincial residency still affects the exact rate, so it's worth checking the fee structure of the province in question. But citizenship alone can mean tens of thousands saved by studying in Canada as a Canadian citizen.

Freedom to live and work in Canada

Canadian citizens have the right to enter, remain in, and live in Canada, and to seek work in any province, without needing an immigration work permit or sponsor.

Not only does that provide additional opportunities and ease of travel, but it's also a chance to reconnect with a part of the family's history.

Being a Canadian citizen also has other benefits such as access to subsidized healthcare (given residency requirements are met).

It’s also worth noting that gaining Canadian citizenship does not impose income tax obligations, as Canadian personal income taxes apply on the basis of residency, unlike the US, which applies to American citizens residing anywhere in the world.  

If you choose to settle in Canada permanently in the future, the US-Canada tax treaty provides relief from double taxation. 

More opportunities to work abroad

Through International Experience Canada (IEC), young Canadian citizens can work and travel in more than 35 partner countries and territories.

Eligible Canadian citizens, usually aged 18 to 30 or 35 depending on the destination, may apply for youth mobility visas or work authorizations abroad through IEC partner arrangements

This means that those in the age bracket with a Canadian passport have more options waiting for them – not just to travel but also to work abroad and gain international experience.

A second passport

Global demand for second citizenship has been climbing as more people look for a hedge against travel restrictions and global uncertainty.

Canada's passport now outranks the US passport on the Henley Passport Index, offering visa-free access to more destinations. That includes several countries, like China and Belarus, where a US passport holder currently requires a visa.

For a child, growing up with a Canadian passport means more places they can travel freely, and one more layer of security if global circumstances shift over their lifetime.

Your children can continue to pass down the benefits, with one caveat

Citizenship by descent doesn't stop with one generation.

A child who becomes a Canadian citizen today can, in turn, pass that citizenship on to children of their own, as long as they meet certain requirements. That gives the family line the same set of options: lower tuition, easier work abroad, a stronger passport, and the right to live in Canada, one generation further down the road.

For children born outside Canada on or after December 15, 2025, to a parent who was also born abroad, the parent must show a real connection to Canada, measured as roughly three years of physical presence in the country, before the child is born. There is a legal workaround to this because of Canada's birthright citizenship policy.

Getting proof of citizenship now may make it easier to obtain a Canadian passport and spend time in Canada later, if they wish to meet this requirement.

An option for families raising LGBTQ or trans kids

Human-rights protections for gender identity and expression exist in all provinces in Canada.

IRCC allows urgent-processing requests in some harm or hardship situations, including those involving sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. For LGBTQ and trans kids with a Canadian ancestor, that can mean a citizenship certificate, and the option it carries, arriving in a matter of weeks rather than months.

For a parent watching the political landscape shift in the US, a Canadian passport often means having a back-up option, should they ever need it.

Can you apply for your child alongside your own application?

Yes. If you and your child are both applying for a citizenship certificate for the first time on paper, you can mail the applications together in one envelope, provided your situation is eligible for that process. Adopted children born outside Canada and some other cases have different rules.

This can make sense where a parent and child rely on the same line of descent, because much of the family research may overlap. However, each application still needs its own complete supporting package or copies as required by IRCC.

It's also worth noting that IRCC states that if one application in a multi-application paper package is incomplete, all the applications will be returned.

If you are unsure about whether you qualify or how to apply with a child, a licensed immigration lawyer can provide guidance.

Get a Free Consultation on Applying for Proof of Canadian Citizenship