Canada
Lost Canadian Citizenship at 28? Section 8 'Lost Canadians' After Bill C-3
What the old section 8 did
Under the former section 8 of the 1977 Citizenship Act, people born abroad to a Canadian parent in the second or later generation acquired citizenship at birth but had to apply to retain it before turning 28. Those who didn't apply, or who applied and weren't successful, lost their citizenship. Source: IRCC briefing, Dec 2024
Section 8 was repealed on April 17, 2009. Source: IRCC, CIT 0001 guide But people born between February 15, 1977 and April 16, 1981 who had already turned 28 by 2009 and lost their citizenship weren't restored at that time. Source: IRCC briefing IRCC calls this group section 8 "Lost Canadians". Source: IRCC, Bill C-3 committee briefing
What Bill C-3 changed
Bill C-3 took effect on December 15, 2025 and extends access to citizenship to the remaining "Lost Canadians", including section 8 Lost Canadians. Source: Government of Canada news release IRCC's guide now says anyone born outside Canada to a Canadian parent before December 15, 2025 is automatically a Canadian citizen effective from their date of birth or the date they lost their citizenship, and that this includes people who lost citizenship on their 28th birthday under the former section 8. Source: IRCC, CIT 0001 guide, Appendix A
IRCC's comparison chart for Parliament said the bill covers everyone who lost citizenship under the former section 8 retention rules, whether they never applied to retain it or applied and were unsuccessful, and that their citizenship is restored retroactive to the date of loss. Source: IRCC, Bill C-3 comparison chart
What to do now
IRCC says that if you think you became a citizen because of Bill C-3, you must apply for a citizenship certificate to find out for sure. If you are a citizen, IRCC issues the certificate as proof. Source: IRCC, Change to citizenship rules in 2025 If you plan to travel to Canada, IRCC advises getting proof of citizenship first and then a Canadian passport. Source: IRCC If you applied under the interim measure and your application is still in progress, IRCC will process it under the new rules; you don't need to submit a new application. Source: IRCC
Fees, forms and wait times: CIT 0001 fee, online vs. paper and processing time.
If you don't want it back
People born before December 15, 2025 who became citizens automatically under the new law, were not previously granted citizenship, and don't want to be Canadian can apply through a simplified renunciation process. Source: news release See renouncing after Bill C-3.