Canada to amend citizenship law; likely to benefit Indian-origin families

The Hindu
The Hindu
2M ago
The amendment to the Citizenship Act represents a progressive step towards inclusivity in Canadian citizenship laws, addressing long-standing issues faced by families with international ties.
Canada to amend citizenship law; likely to benefit Indian-origin families

Key insights

  • 1

    Bill C-3 passed: The new law received royal assent, marking a significant change in citizenship policy.

  • 2

    First-generation limit addressed: The amendment resolves issues caused by the previous citizenship limit for children born abroad.

  • 3

    Impact on families: Thousands of Indian-origin families will benefit from the new citizenship provisions.

A What happened
Canada has enacted Bill C-3, which amends the Citizenship Act to allow Canadian parents born or adopted outside the country to pass citizenship to their children born or adopted abroad. This law is significant for many Indian-origin families who faced challenges due to the previous first-generation limit established in 2009. The limit prevented children born outside Canada from obtaining citizenship if their Canadian parent was also born abroad. The new law aims to rectify these issues and provide a more inclusive approach to citizenship. It will come into effect on a date determined by the government. The Ontario Superior Court previously ruled that parts of the Citizenship Act were unconstitutional, prompting this legislative change. The government has acknowledged the need for fairer citizenship access for modern families.

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