The impact of Canadian Citizenship Act revision on Dutch and Canadian dual citizenship

On December 15, 2025, the Canadian Citizenship Act was amended by Bill C-3. This amendment grants Canadian citizenship to so-called “Lost Canadians.”

What does the amendment to the Canadian Citizenship Act entail?

Before the new Canadian citizenship law (Bill C-3) was introduced, a Canadian citizen could only pass on Canadian citizenship to a child born or adopted outside Canada if the parent was born in Canada or had been naturalized in Canada prior to the birth or adoption. This had unacceptable consequences for Canadian children born outside Canada. That is why this amendment to Canadian nationality law was made. Among other things, it provides that:

• In most cases, Canadian citizenship is automatically granted to individuals born outside Canada to a Canadian parent prior to the bill’s coming into force.
• Individuals who were adopted abroad before December 15, 2025, by a Canadian parent who themselves was born or adopted abroad may apply for Canadian citizenship.
• Canadian citizenship may be granted to individuals born outside of Canada on or after December 15, 2025, to a Canadian parent who was born or adopted abroad. However, this parent must have a substantial connection to Canada. To demonstrate this, the parent must have had a cumulative physical presence in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) prior to the birth or adoption.
• Canadian citizenship may be granted to individuals who were adopted outside Canada on or after December 15, 2025, by a second-generation (or later) Canadian. This parent must also have a substantial connection to Canada.

Possible consequences for Dutch citizenship

What does the Canadian legislative change mean for a Dutch national born outside Canada to a Canadian parent? Or for a Dutch national who was adopted by a Canadian parent? Under the Dutch Nationality Act (RWN), a Dutch national who voluntarily acquires another nationality automatically loses the Dutch nationality. In the case of a Dutch national born outside the Netherlands to a Canadian parent, one might wonder whether voluntary acquisition applies if he is automatically granted Canadian citizenship under the legislative change in Canada. In the case of adoption, the situation may differ because he can then apply for Canadian citizenship.

As soon as the IND’s position is known, we will update this post. Do any of the examples above apply to you, and do you have follow up questions ? Please contact a member of our Dutch Citizenship team.