The 1,095-day substantial connection requirement is an important part of Canada’s citizenship by descent rules following Bill C-3.
For certain Canadian citizens who were themselves born or adopted outside Canada, the rule determines whether they can pass Canadian citizenship to a child born or adopted outside Canada on or after December 15, 2025.
At Falcon Law PC, we assist individuals and families with Canadian citizenship by descent matters, including substantial connection assessments, citizenship eligibility for children born abroad, and citizenship certificate applications.
What Is the 1,095-Day Substantial Connection Requirement?
For a person born outside Canada on or after December 15, 2025 to a Canadian parent who was also born outside Canada, the Canadian parent generally must have accumulated at least 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada before the child’s birth for citizenship to pass beyond the first generation.
The same substantial connection concept also applies in certain citizenship cases involving children adopted outside Canada.
The 1,095 days are cumulative. They do not need to be consecutive and may be accumulated over different periods of time spent in Canada.
IRCC also treats any calendar day during which the person was physically present in Canada as a day of physical presence, regardless of the time of day. A partial day can therefore count as a full day.
Why Does the 1,095-Day Rule Exist?
Before Bill C-3, Canadian citizenship by descent was generally limited to the first generation born outside Canada. As a result, a Canadian citizen who was themselves born abroad could often not automatically pass citizenship to another generation also born abroad.
Bill C-3 changed this framework effective December 15, 2025. It expanded citizenship for many people previously excluded by the first-generation limit and created a new forward-looking system that permits citizenship to pass beyond the first generation where the Canadian parent has a substantial connection to Canada.
That substantial connection is established through at least 1,095 cumulative days of physical presence in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption. Our guide to Canadian citizenship by descent after Bill C-3 discusses the broader changes to the law.
Who Does the 1,095-Day Requirement Apply To?
The requirement is particularly important where both the Canadian parent and the child were born outside Canada.
For example, if a Canadian citizen was born in the United States to a Canadian parent and later has their own child outside Canada on or after December 15, 2025, they may need to establish at least 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada before the child was born.
By contrast, the requirement does not generally apply in the same way where the Canadian parent was born in Canada or became a naturalized Canadian citizen before the child’s birth.
The child’s date of birth is also important. People born abroad before December 15, 2025 are generally assessed under the expanded citizenship rules introduced by Bill C-3 rather than this forward-looking physical presence test.
Parents who are unsure how the rule affects their family can also review whether they can pass Canadian citizenship to a child born abroad.
How Are the 1,095 Days Calculated?
The parent must generally establish at least 1,095 cumulative days physically present in Canada before the relevant child’s birth or adoption.
The days do not need to occur during one continuous three-year period. Time spent in Canada during different stages of life may potentially be combined, provided the required total is established.
For example, time spent living in Canada as a child, attending school, working, or returning to Canada for later periods may all be relevant to the calculation.
IRCC uses Form CIT 0555, How to Calculate Physical Presence in Canada for a Canadian Parent, where proof of the parent’s 1,095 days is required.
How Can I Prove 1,095 Days of Physical Presence in Canada?
Applicants may need to provide records supporting the dates during which the Canadian parent was physically present in Canada.
Depending on the circumstances, useful evidence may include:
- school records or transcripts;
- employment records or T4 slips;
- residential leases, mortgage records, or insurance documents;
- passports and travel records;
- entry and exit records;
- government records; and
- other reliable evidence showing physical presence in Canada.
No single type of document will necessarily establish every day. In longer or older residence histories, several sources of evidence may need to be combined to establish the required period.
Applicants dealing with broader citizenship documentation issues can review our guide to the documents needed for a Canadian citizenship certificate application.
What If the Canadian Parent Never Obtained a Citizenship Certificate?
The absence of a citizenship certificate does not necessarily mean that the parent was not Canadian.
In some cases, a parent born outside Canada may already have been Canadian by law even though they never applied for formal proof. Determining the parent’s citizenship status may therefore be the first step before assessing whether the 1,095-day requirement applies.
Our guide on what happens when a Canadian parent never applied for proof of citizenship discusses this issue further.
Why the 1,095-Day Rule Matters for Canadians Living Abroad
Canadian citizens born abroad who expect to have children outside Canada should understand the rule before the child is born, because the required 1,095 days generally must already have been accumulated by that time.
For families living abroad over several generations, maintaining accurate records of time spent in Canada can therefore become important for future citizenship planning.
Families with a more complex citizenship history involving Canadian parents, grandparents, or earlier generations may also wish to review our guide on Canadian citizenship through a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent.
Speak With a Canadian Citizenship by Descent Lawyer
If you are unsure whether the 1,095-day substantial connection requirement applies to you, Falcon Law PC can assist with reviewing your citizenship history, physical presence in Canada, family lineage, and supporting documentation.
You can contact Falcon Law PC to schedule a consultation or review our packages and fees for additional information.