My Grandfather Was Born in Canada: Can I Get Dual Citizenship?

If your grandfather was born in Canada, you almost certainly qualify for Canadian citizenship. And yes, you can hold both Canadian and American citizenship at the same time. Here is everything you need to know.

The Short Answer

Yes. Under Bill C-3, which took effect on December 15, 2025, there is no generational limit on Canadian citizenship by descent for people born before that date. If your grandfather was born in Canada, and you can document the chain of descent from him to you, you are likely already a Canadian citizen. You just need to apply for proof.

How Dual Citizenship Works

Both Canada and the United States fully recognize dual citizenship. Getting Canadian citizenship will not affect your American citizenship in any way. You will hold two passports, have the right to live and work in both countries, and can vote in both (though Canadian voting while abroad has some restrictions).

A Canadian passport gives you visa-free access to over 185 countries and the right to live and work in Canada with full access to healthcare and social services once you establish residency.

The Document Chain You Need

To prove citizenship through your grandfather, you need an unbroken chain of documents connecting him to you:

1. Your grandfather's Canadian birth certificate This is the foundation of your claim. Order it from the vital statistics office of the province where he was born. For example, if he was born in Ontario, order from ServiceOntario. If he was born in Quebec, use the DEClic! portal.

2. Your parent's birth certificate This proves your parent is the child of your Canadian grandfather. Make sure it shows your grandfather's name as a parent.

3. Your birth certificate This proves you are the child of your parent. Again, make sure it lists your parent's name.

4. Marriage certificates If anyone in the chain changed their name through marriage, you need the marriage certificate to connect the maiden name to the married name. This is common and important.

What If Names Were Anglicized?

Many Canadian families anglicized their names after moving to the US. For example:

• Tremblay became Trombley
• Boucher became Bushey
• Lefebvre became Faber
• Jean-Baptiste became John

If your grandfather's name appears differently on different documents, you may need additional records (death certificates, census records, church records) to prove they are the same person.

Step-by-Step Process

1. Check your eligibility at MaplePass with the free 2-minute assessment
2. Order your grandfather's Canadian birth certificate from the relevant province (4-8 weeks)
3. Gather all other certificates in the chain (your parent's birth certificate, your birth certificate, marriage certificates)
4. Complete the CIT 0001 form with IRCC
5. Submit with the $75 CAD fee via tracked mail
6. Wait approximately 11 months for processing

Common Scenarios

Grandfather born in Canada, moved to US, your parent born in US, you born in US: You qualify. The chain is: Grandfather (Canadian) > Parent (Canadian by descent) > You (Canadian by descent under Bill C-3).

Grandfather born in Canada, grandmother born in US, your parent born in US: You still qualify. Only one parent or ancestor in each generation needs to be Canadian.

Grandfather's parents were both immigrants to Canada, but grandfather was born in Canada: You qualify. Being born in Canada makes your grandfather Canadian regardless of his parents' origins.

You are not sure which province your grandfather was born in: Start with census records, family documents, or FamilySearch.org to narrow down the location. Once you know the province, contact their vital statistics office.

The Cost

• Government fee: $75 CAD
• Provincial birth certificate: $25-$75 CAD (varies by province)
• US birth certificates: $15-$30 each (varies by state)
• Citizenship photos: $15-$30
• MaplePass application service: $199 USD (optional but recommended)

Total realistic cost: $300-$600, compared to $2,000-$5,000 for an immigration consultant.