Citizenship by descent — am I eligible?

🇨🇦 Canada

Bill C-3 (in force 15 Dec 2025) removed the first-generation limit. The first generation born abroad to a parent who was born in Canada or naturalized in Canada is a citizen by descent automatically. People born abroad in the 2nd generation or later BEFORE 15 Dec 2025 (the “Lost Canadians”) are now, in most cases, automatically citizens with no day-count test. For a child born/adopted abroad beyond the first generation ON OR AFTER 15 Dec 2025, citizenship passes only if the Canadian parent met a “substantial connection” test of 1,095 cumulative days in Canada before the birth.

2024–26 change: Before 15 Dec 2025 a first-generation limit excluded most 2nd-generation-born-abroad people (“Lost Canadians”). Bill C-3 (Royal Assent 20 Nov 2025; in force 15 Dec 2025) removed it. If you were told you had no claim under the old rule, re-check — you may be a citizen automatically now.

Generation limit: First-generation cap REMOVED (Bill C-3). Unlimited generations back for people born before 15 Dec 2025; forward, each transmission beyond the first generation needs the parent's 1,095-day substantial connection.

🇮🇹 Italy

Jure sanguinis was sharply restricted by Art. 3-bis (D.L. 36/2025, in force 28 Mar 2025; converted to Law 74/2025, in force 24 May 2025). New claims now reach only a parent or grandparent who was EXCLUSIVELY Italian — a great-grandparent (or a dual-citizen grandparent) no longer qualifies. Claims with an application or confirmed appointment by 23:59 Rome time on 27 Mar 2025 are still judged under the OLD unlimited-generation rules.

2024–26 change: Major change: pre-28 Mar 2025 the rule was unlimited generations; from 28 Mar 2025 Art. 3-bis caps new claims at a parent or grandparent. The reform was UPHELD in full by the Constitutional Court (Sentenza 63/2026, judgment deposited 30 Apr 2026) — it is settled law, not provisional.

Generation limit: NEW claims: 2 generations max (parent or grandparent, exclusively Italian). OLD rules (grandfathered by a 27 Mar 2025 application/appointment): unlimited generations if the citizenship chain was never broken.

🇮🇪 Ireland

If a parent was born on the island of Ireland (incl. Northern Ireland) you are an Irish citizen automatically. If a grandparent was born in Ireland you are entitled via the Foreign Births Register (FBR) — but citizenship is effective only from the date you register, not from birth. A great-grandparent works ONLY if your parent was already on the FBR / an Irish citizen before you were born. There is no route beyond a great-grandparent.

Generation limit: Maximum 3 generations (great-grandparent), and the great-grandparent reach requires the in-between parent to have registered on the FBR before your birth. No naturalization/emigration cutoff dates.

🇵🇱 Poland

Poland CONFIRMS existing citizenship (it does not grant it), with NO generation limit — jus sanguinis transmits through unlimited generations IF the chain was never broken. The claim fails if an ancestor lost Polish citizenship BEFORE the next person in the line was born — most often by naturalizing abroad before 19 Jan 1951, or (for a woman) marrying a foreigner before 19 Jan 1951. Your own dual citizenship does not block confirmation.

Generation limit: No generation limit — but every link in the chain must be unbroken.