On December 15, 2025, amendments were made to Canada’s Citizenship Act which significantly expanded who is recognized as a Canadian citizen by descent. As a result, many people who grew up outside Canada and never held Canadian documents are actually Canadian citizens.

The amendments have recognized Canadian citizenship for certain people who lost their Canadian citizenship or never received it as a result of previous exclusionary rules. Specifically, the amendments remove a former “first-generational limit” on citizenship for children of Canadians born abroad and mainly impact:

• People born outside Canada to a Canadian parent who lost citizenship under old laws
• People who were considered to be “lost Canadians” due to technicalities

If you fall into one of these categories, the Citizenship Act may recognize you as a Canadian citizen automatically, and you may apply for proof of your citizenship.

Importantly, Canadian citizenship does not automatically extend to a spouse.

Sponsorship for Permanent Residence

As a Canadian citizen, you can sponsor your spouse for permanent residence, even if you have not lived in Canada before. This enables Canadians to bring their foreign spouses, common-law partners or conjugal partners to live with them permanently in Canada.

To sponsor an eligible partner, the sponsor must meet the following eligibility requirements, including the following:

• Be at least 18 years old;
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Indian Act (this includes holding a citizenship certificate or Canadian passport);
• Be residing in Canada, unless the sponsor is a Canadian citizen who can show intention to relocate to Canada upon the sponsored relative becoming a permanent resident;
• Be able to prove they can provide for the basic necessities of their partner (and any accompanying dependents), including not being in receipt of social assistance for reasons other than a disability; and
• Not be subject to any bars to sponsorship.

An eligible sponsor can sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner, regardless of gender. Each of these categories of Family Members have specific criteria which must be shown:

• Spouse: the couple must prove they are legally married. Marriages will be recognized when the marriage was either (1) legally performed in Canada, or (2) legally recognized in the county where it took place and in Canada.
• Common-law partner: the couple must prove that they have been living together for at least 12 consecutive months in a conjugal, or “marriage-like” relationship.
• Conjugal partner: the applicant must be living outside Canada, and the couple must prove that (1) there is a significant degree of attachment between them, and (2) they’ve been in a genuine relationship for at least 12 months where marriage or cohabitation is not possible. This category is often used where there is a legal impediment to marriage or establishing common law status.

Please note that applicants destined for Quebec face additional assessment from the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) and may not qualify depending on Quebec caps for family class applications.

Once your spouse or partner becomes a permanent resident, they can later apply for citizenship once they have met the usual requirements for a Grant of Citizenship which include meeting a physical presence requirement, proof of filing taxes if required, and language proficiency and a knowledge test for applicants who are between the ages of 18-54.

For individuals exploring either pathway, obtaining accurate legal guidance is critical. Dual citizenship considerations often involve evaluating the laws of two or more countries, while renunciation can involve irreversible consequences that affect travel, employment, and long-term planning. Further, the sponsorship process can be complex. Applicants should ensure they have a proper understanding of the requirements and process.

If you have questions about obtaining Canadian citizenship and/or sponsoring your spouse or partner, please contact our office.