Canadian Citizenship Eligibility Quiz: Descent, Birth and the PR Route
Answer a few questions to see if you are already a Canadian citizen by birth or descent, before or after 15 December 2025. Or find the earliest date you can apply as a permanent resident. You get a plain-English result and your next step.
since 1991
Check your citizenship eligibility
Choose your goal, answer the questions and see your result right away. Last updated: October 2026. This is general guidance. IRCC decides your case.
What does the citizenship quiz do?
The quiz checks your answers against IRCC’s published rules for citizenship by birth, by descent and by the PR route (IRCC, checked October 2026). It tells you if you are likely eligible, need a closer look, or are unlikely as described.
It also points you to the right next step, such as a citizenship certificate or a day count.
What changed on 15 December 2025?
Bill C-3 came into force on 15 December 2025 and removed the first-generation limit in many cases. Most people born abroad before that date to a Canadian parent are now automatically citizens, and later births face a 1,095-day test for second-generation parents.
What your result means
- Likely eligible: your answers match IRCC’s rules, so prove it with a certificate
- Needs a closer look: one answer is unclear, so confirm it with records
- Unlikely as described: your answers do not match the rules, but older rules can still apply
Is the quiz right for you?
A quick check before you gather documents.
Use it if you
- Were born outside Canada and a parent or grandparent was Canadian
- Were adopted from abroad by a Canadian parent
- Are a permanent resident counting days toward citizenship
Start with another page if you
- Already know you are a citizen and need a certificate
- Want the full steps to apply
- Need help finding old records
See the citizenship hub and our descent documents guide.
What you need before you start
Have these ready. If you are unsure of a date, use your best answer and check it later. Source: IRCC.
Parent details
Where each Canadian parent or grandparent was born, and how they got citizenship.
Birth dates
Your birth date and your parent’s, to apply the 15 December 2025 cut-off.
Parent’s days in Canada
For a second-generation birth after the cut-off, the days your parent spent in Canada before you were born.
PR landing date
For the PR route, the date on your COPR or PR card.
Trip dates
The days you left and returned in the last 5 years.
Want your result checked?
We review your records, confirm the chain and tell you your next step.
How the rules work
Born in Canada
Generally a citizen. The exception is a child of a parent who held diplomatic privileges.
Born abroad before 15 December 2025
Most people born abroad to a Canadian parent are automatically citizens, including those whose parent qualified under the new rules.
Born abroad on or after 15 December 2025
First generation has no days test. Second generation or later needs a parent with 1,095 days in Canada before the birth.
Adopted from abroad
Not automatic. A grant applies, and a second-generation parent needs 1,095 days in Canada before the adoption.
The PR route
You need 1,095 days in the 5 years before you sign, with at least 730 as a PR. Days before PR count half, up to 365.
Check the page dates
IRCC updated its descent rules page on 24 December 2025 and its PR eligibility page on 21 April 2026.
Where to go next
Use your result to pick your next move.
Have these ready for your claim
The quiz scores what you enter. Your documents must back up every answer.
Long-form birth certificates
One for you, your parent and each ancestor in the chain.
Marriage records
They link names across generations and help show the chain.
Proof your ancestor was Canadian
A Canadian birth record, a naturalization record or a citizenship certificate.
Residence records
Tax records, leases or school records that show your parent’s days in Canada.
Passport and photos
Valid ID and citizenship photos for the certificate application.
Want your claim checked?
We review your chain and your documents before you apply.
How to use the quiz, step by step
Six steps from your first answer to your next move.
Gather your facts
Collect birth dates and your parent’s citizenship details.
Choose your path
Pick descent or the PR route, then answer each question.
See your result
Your result appears as soon as you answer the last question.
Read the reasons
See why the quiz gave that result.
Plan your proof
Check the documents guide and the certificate steps.
Plan your next step
Book a Strategy Consultation if your result is unclear.
Five mistakes that skew your result
A wrong answer gives a wrong result. Watch for these.
Guessing the chain
Each ancestor must have been a citizen when the next person was born.
Mixing up the dates
The 15 December 2025 cut-off depends on your birth date, not your parent’s.
Skipping the days test
After the cut-off, a second-generation claim needs a parent with 1,095 days in Canada.
Counting pre-PR days in full
Days before PR count as half days, up to 365 days of credit.
Treating a result as a decision
Only IRCC decides. Apply for a certificate to get official proof.
Want a second set of eyes?
We review your answers and your documents before you apply.
Citizenship quiz facts at a glance
Key facts from IRCC, checked October 2026.
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Citizenship quiz FAQs
Who is a Canadian citizen by descent?
A person born outside Canada to a Canadian parent is generally a citizen by descent. If you were born before 15 December 2025, you are automatically a citizen in most cases, even when your parent was also born abroad. Apply for a citizenship certificate to prove it (IRCC, checked October 2026).
Does the 15 December 2025 date matter?
Yes. On 15 December 2025, Bill C-3 removed the first-generation limit for many people. If you were born before that date, you are generally a citizen. If you were born on or after it, a second-generation parent must have 1,095 days in Canada before your birth.
What is the 1,095-day test for descent?
It is the substantial connection test. A Canadian parent who was also born abroad must have spent at least 1,095 days, about 3 years, in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption. A parent born in Canada, or naturalized, does not face this test.
Can I be a citizen if only my grandparent was Canadian?
Possibly. Your parent counts as a citizen if your grandparent was a citizen when your parent was born, and you then count if your parent was a citizen when you were born. Each link in the chain must be unbroken, so gather records for every generation.
How do I prove I am a Canadian citizen?
Apply for a citizenship certificate. It costs $75 and is the official proof you need for a Canadian passport. Read our guide on proof of citizenship delays before you apply.
Is an adopted child a Canadian citizen?
Not automatically. A person adopted from outside Canada needs a citizenship grant, and a second-generation Canadian parent must have 1,095 days in Canada before the adoption.
How does the PR day count work?
You need 1,095 days in Canada in the 5 years before you sign your application, and at least 730 must be as a permanent resident. Each day before PR counts as half a day, up to 365 days. The day you sign does not count.
Can I decline automatic citizenship?
Yes. If you became a citizen automatically under the new rules and do not want it, you can apply to give up your Canadian citizenship (IRCC, checked October 2026). Speak with an adviser before you decide, because it can be hard to reverse.
Does the quiz decide my case?
No. The quiz gives general guidance from IRCC’s published rules. Older rules and special situations can change the result, and only IRCC decides your application.