What documents are required for Canadian citizenship through descent?

For many Americans, discovering they may qualify for Canadian citizenship through descent feels like uncovering a second layer of family history. Now, thanks to Bill C-3, which came into force on 15 December 2025, many Americans who were previously locked out of Canadian citizenship through descent can make a claim. 

If you have a Canadian ancestor – a parent, grandparent, great-grandparent or even a great-great-grandparent – you may already be a Canadian citizen, and you simply need to prove it. 

Most applications require a combination of identity documents, lineage records and Canadian ancestor records – a paper trail linking you directly to a person born in Canada.  

1. Your own documents

Every application starts with proof of who you are:

• Your long-form birth certificate. Not the short-form wallet card. This must be the version that lists your parents’ names. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) rejects short-form certificates. This is a common reason applications are returned.
  • If your birth certificate does not contain your parents’ names, there are special rules that apply. 
• Your current government-issued photo ID (such as a US passport or driver’s licence). 
• Two printed citizenship photos.
• Your current passport (if you hold one).

2. Proof of lineage

This is the most important part of the process. To qualify for Canadian citizenship through a parent, Canadian citizenship through a grandparent or more distant ancestry pathways, you must prove your direct family connection to your Canadian ancestor. For every person between you and your Canadian ancestor, you need:

• Long-form birth certificates for every person in the chain.
• Marriage certificates or proof of name change. This is required any time a surname changed between generations. An unexplained name discrepancy will result in a returned application.
• Divorce certificates or death certificates, where relevant, to account for any changes in family circumstances.
• Adoption records, where relevant.

If your chain runs through a grandparent, great-grandparent or great-great-grandparent, each intervening generation must be fully documented.  

3. Proof your ancestor was Canadian

Finally, you need to establish that your anchor ancestor was actually a Canadian citizen. Depending on their situation, this might include: 

• A Canadian birth certificate
• A grant of Canadian citizenship certificate or naturalisation record(for ancestors who inherited Canadian citizenship through naturalisation) 
• Canadian immigration or landing records
• A Canadian passport (historical copies are acceptable)
• Military service records if they served in the Canadian Armed Forces
• Church records, such as baptismal certificates, particularly for ancestors born before formal civil registration began
• Provincial vital statistics records 

Many of these records can be sourced from Library and Archives Canada, provincial archives (such as the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec for French-Canadian ancestry), or vital statistics offices in the relevant province. 

For all documents that are not in English or French, you must include the English or French translation and an affidavit from the person who completed the translation. The affidavit must be sworn in the presence of a notary public or commissioner of oaths in Canada, or a notary public outside of Canada. 

What if documents are missing?

Missing documents don’t automatically disqualify you. Older records may have been lost, destroyed or never properly registered — and this is one of the most common concerns raised by Americans exploring Canadian citizenship through ancestry. What matters is that gaps are properly addressed and explained. Doherty Fultz Immigration has helped many clients in exactly this situation. 

Do you need a DNA test?

Almost certainly not. Canadian citizenship through descent is a documentary process, not a genetic one. 

Why accuracy matters

Even minor mistakes can result in delays, returned applications or refusals, particularly for multi-generational ancestry claims involving historical records, translation requirements or complex lineage chains. Technically, Americans can prepare their own applications, but if you make even one error, the government will reject the entire package. 

That’s why so many Americans choose to work with Doherty Fultz Immigration. As Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants, we treat our clients like family. Our principal, Cassandra Fultz, was born and raised in America and understands the unique perspective of US applicants. We offer transparent, flat-fee pricing, and there are no ongoing costs simply for holding citizenship, no requirement to relocate, and no loss of your US citizenship. 

Ready to find out if you’re already a Canadian citizen? Contact Doherty Fultz Immigration today for a consultation.