Canadian citizenship by descent (Bill C-3)
Mayo Law helps people born outside Canada to a Canadian parent, and families affected by the first-generation limit, work out whether they are, or can become, Canadian citizens under Bill C-3, and how a Canadian claim sits alongside US citizenship or status. From confirming eligibility and gathering the record to the application and proof of citizenship, we handle the matter out of our Toronto and New York offices.
- Law Society of OntarioLicensed in Ontario
- New York State BarAdmitted in New York
Citizenship questions that start with a parent, a grandparent, or a birth abroad.
Citizenship by descent turns on the record: who was Canadian, when, where each generation was born, and what changed in the law along the way. Many of the people who read our guides are Americans who may already be Canadian citizens without knowing it; others lost a citizenship they were born with. We start by establishing where you stand, then take the application through to a certificate.
- Citizenship by descent
- Eligibility review for people born abroad to a Canadian parent
- Including second-generation claims under Bill C-3
- The documents that support them
- Lost Canadians
- Reviewing whether a citizenship was lost or never recognized
- The route to restore or confirm it
- Proof of citizenship
- Citizenship certificate applications
- Record searches
- Replacing or correcting documents
- Citizenship and US status
- How a Canadian claim sits alongside US citizenship
- A green card
- Or a visa — one file
- Both sides of the border
- Dual citizenship planning
- Keeping US citizenship while becoming Canadian
- The tax and travel questions that follow
Ready to start
You believe you have a claim and want us to handle it. Tell us who in your family was Canadian and where you were born.
Send an inquiryWant advice first
You have questions about eligibility, documents, timing, or how a claim affects your US status.
Book a consultationDifferent routes to the same certificate — by descent, by restoration, or by application.
Americans with a Canadian parent or grandparent
People born in the United States to a Canadian parent, and the second generation whose claims Bill C-3 addresses.
Lost Canadians
People who held Canadian citizenship at birth and lost it, or were never recognized, under earlier versions of the Citizenship Act.
A citizenship practice built around families and their records.
- 01One firm, both sides of the border
Most citizenship-by-descent clients live in the United States. We run the matter from Toronto and New York as one firm — same file, same team — so the Canadian claim and your US status are looked at together.
- 02The record, done properly
Descent claims are won on documents: births, marriages, naturalizations, and dates. We build the record before we file, so the application is not sent back for the piece that was missing.
- 03Beyond the certificate
A Canadian passport is rarely the end of it. Tax residence, travel, a spouse or children, and a move across the border all follow; we handle the connected work without sending you to three other firms.
What our clients say
Joseph explained every step of the legal process in a clear and straightforward manner. I always felt informed and at ease. His professionalism and dedication gave me confidence that my case was in the right hands. I highly recommend his services to anyone seeking legal assistance.
Leena E.
Working with Joseph Mayo was a fantastic experience. He is incredibly knowledgeable and efficient, helping me with important files that needed quick submission. His expertise and dedication were evident, and he guided me through the process in record time. I’m grateful for his prompt and thorough assistance. Highly recommended for anyone needing legal expertise!
Ziad A.
Joseph’s the kind of lawyer who actually listens. I never felt like just a file on his desk—he really took the time to understand me and what I was going through. It made the whole experience a lot less stressful. I’m honestly so glad I found him.
Wisam R.
Guides on this topic
Common questions
How does a citizenship matter start with Mayo Law?
Tell us who in your family was Canadian, where each generation was born, and what documents you already hold; we come back with where you stand and what the application would involve.
Can Mayo Law help if I live in the United States?
Yes. Mayo Law operates on both sides of the border as one firm, with offices in Toronto and New York. Clients in the United States work with the same team from intake through the certificate, and questions about US citizenship or status are handled in the same file.
Does Mayo Law work with individual clients or only businesses?
Both. Mayo Law works with individual clients on immigration matters (E-2 investor visas, family-based petitions, Canadian citizenship and Bill C-3 matters), notary services, and personal compliance or defense matters, as well as with businesses on incorporation, contracts, M&A, employment-based immigration, white-collar defense, and compliance programs. The firm advises both sides — a founder structuring a startup or a multinational entering Canada, and a family filing an immigration application.
A trusted Toronto and New York law firm for Canadians, Americans, and the families in between.
Joseph Mayo is the principal attorney at Mayo Law. He is licensed to practice law in both Ontario and New York, holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from New York University School of Law with a specialty in international business and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in law and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in business from Netanya Academic College, and is a member of the American Bar Association and the Law Society of Ontario. His practice focuses on cross-border immigration, business law, white collar defense, and compliance.
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