Recent legal changes have made it easier than ever to obtain Canadian citizenship, particularly for people of Canadian descent.
Under the new law, anyone born outside Canada before December 15, 2025, can qualify for citizenship if they can prove Canadian ancestry. Previously, this benefit was limited to the first generation—those with at least one parent who was a Canadian citizen.
The change has led to a surge in document searches among people of Canadian origin living in the United States. An archivist at Quebec’s national library and archives reported a significant increase in demand last month. According to Canada’s immigration and citizenship website, it currently takes about 10 months to receive a citizenship certificate.
Analysts say that while many applicants are motivated by a desire to reconnect with their roots, others are considering relocation due to the political climate following the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
Ottawa-based licensed immigration consultant Cassandra Fultz said interest in moving to Canada has risen steadily since November 2024. “In my 17 years of experience, I’ve never seen anything like this,” she noted. “Interest usually spikes after U.S. elections but tends to fade. This time, it has remained strong even two years later.”
Government data shows that between 2016 and 2020, about 34,700 U.S. citizens obtained permanent residency in Canada. That number rose to 42,300 between 2021 and 2024. So far this year, around 8,000 people have received permanent residency.
The United States remains home to the largest number of Canadians living abroad. Among those who acquired Canadian citizenship through their parents, nearly one-third were born in the U.S.
Since the law changed, more Americans have been trying to prove their Canadian ancestry. Sarah Hannaham, an official at Quebec’s national archives, said applications for citizenship certificates rose sharply—from just 32 in January 2025 to over 1,000 in January 2026, most of them from U.S. citizens.
The new rules also apply to those born after December 15, 2025. They can still qualify for citizenship if one parent was a Canadian citizen before their birth or had lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days prior to their birth.
The legal reform followed a 2023 ruling by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, which declared the first-generation limit on citizenship unconstitutional.
Source: The Independent
