Your grandmother was born in Quebec? You may already be Canadian. Our genealogists find the birth, marriage and death records that prove every generation back to your Canadian ancestor.
Book a free consultationTell us who your Canadian ancestor was. We'll tell you which records you need.
- You, born in Ohio, 1979Your birth certificate
- Your mother, born in Massachusetts, 1952Birth certificate, marriage record
- Your grandmother, born in Quebec, 1926Parish baptism record, in French
An example line. Every link needs a record, and we find the ones you're missing.
Who qualifies under Bill C-3
Bill C-3 came into force on December 15, 2025. It removed the “first-generation limit,” so Canadian citizenship can now pass through parents, grandparents and great-grandparents who were born outside Canada.
Born before December 15, 2025
If you were born outside Canada before this date and have an unbroken line back to an ancestor who was born in Canada or naturalized there, you are likely already a citizen. You apply for a citizenship certificate to prove it. Ancestors born in Canada before 1947, when Canadian citizenship was created, usually still count.
Born on or after December 15, 2025
Children born abroad after this date to a Canadian parent who was also born abroad qualify only if that parent spent at least 1,095 days in Canada before the child's birth.
The documents you need for each generation
Your application is only as strong as its weakest link. Each person between you and your Canadian ancestor needs a record that shows who their parents were.
| Generation | Records needed |
|---|---|
| You | Long-form birth certificate showing your parents’ names |
| Each parent in the line | Long-form birth certificate, plus a marriage or name-change record if their surname changed |
| Canadian ancestor | Canadian birth or baptism record, or a naturalization certificate |
| Gaps and name changes | Census, church, immigration or death records that tie two people together when a direct record is missing |
Why the records matter
In June 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada reportedly told several self-represented applicants who had recently received Bill C-3 citizenship certificates to return them while their files were reviewed.
When a file is reviewed, the records are what get checked. A line built on the right documents, with names and dates that match from one generation to the next, is your best protection.
How we work
Free consultation
Tell us about your Canadian ancestor and what you already have. We map the generations and identify the missing records.
Research and retrieval
We search parish registers, provincial archives and vital records offices, and order certified copies where they're needed.
Your document package
You get every record, organized generation by generation, ready for your application or your lawyer.
Provinces we cover
Most of our clients are Americans whose families crossed the border from these provinces.
Quebec
French-language Catholic and Protestant parish registers. The hardest records to find, and our specialty.
Ontario
Civil registration from 1869, plus earlier church baptism records.
Nova Scotia
Provincial birth, marriage and death records, and church records for earlier years.
New Brunswick
Provincial archives and late-registered births, common in rural families.
Prince Edward Island
Baptism, marriage and burial records held by churches and the provincial archives.
British Columbia
Provincial vital records from 1872, indexed by the BC Archives, plus church records for earlier years.
Records we've found for recent clients
- A 1916 Montreal birth record for a citizenship application already in progress
- An 1846 baptism record from Stanstead, Quebec
- An 1864 Ontario baptism record
- A full line of descent from an ancestor born in Pictou, Nova Scotia
Questions people ask us
If my grandmother was Canadian, can I get citizenship?
Yes, in most cases, if you were born before December 15, 2025 and you can document each generation between you and her. Bill C-3 removed the first-generation limit, so citizenship can pass from a Canadian grandparent through a parent born abroad to you. Book a free consultation and we'll check your line.
If my great-grandfather was Canadian, can I get citizenship?
Often yes. For people born before December 15, 2025, there is no fixed generation cap, as long as the line back to a Canadian-born or naturalized ancestor is unbroken and documented. The further back the ancestor, the more records you need, which is where we come in. Tell us about your great-grandfather.
What documents do I need for Canadian citizenship by descent?
You need a birth record for yourself and for every person between you and your Canadian ancestor, plus marriage or name-change records wherever a surname changes, and proof that the ancestor was born in Canada or naturalized. We'll tell you which ones you're missing.
Why are Quebec records harder to find?
Until 1994, births in Quebec were recorded as church baptisms rather than civil birth certificates, and most entries are handwritten in French or Latin. Finding the right parish and reading the entry correctly is specialist work. Ask us about your Quebec ancestor.
Do I need a lawyer to apply?
No, you can apply for proof of citizenship yourself, but many of our clients work with an immigration lawyer. Either way, the application rests on the records, and we deliver them organized for you or your lawyer. Start with a free consultation.
Find out which records you need
Tell us who your Canadian ancestor was and what you already have. A RecordClick genealogist will map your line and tell you exactly what's missing.
Book a free consultationNo obligation. Over 10 years of genealogy research.
RecordClick is a genealogy research service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal or immigration advice. Eligibility is decided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. For legal questions about your application, consult a licensed immigration lawyer.