New law makes qualifying for Canadian citizenship easier for some Americans
FILE - A Canadian passport is displayed in front of a computer screen showing the American flag in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on March 12, 2025. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Millions of Americans might qualify for dual Canadian citizenship under a recent change to Canada’s requirements.
The new law
Dig deeper:
Previously, Canadian citizenship by descent could only be passed down to one generation, from a parent to a child. But the new law opened up citizenship to anyone born before that date who could prove they have a direct Canadian ancestor — a grandparent, great-grandparent or even more distant ancestor.
Those born on or after Dec. 15 need to show that their Canadian parent lived in Canada for 1,095 days.
Under the new law, descendants of Canadians are already considered citizens but must provide proof to obtain a certificate of citizenship.
By the numbers:
People who already have documentation, submitting a proof of citizenship will cost about $55, which is about 75 Canadian dollars.
The website for the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada office, which processes applications, says processing times for a certificate is around 10 months, with more 56,000 people awaiting a decision.
The agency said that from Dec. 15 to Jan. 31, it confirmed citizenship by descent for 1,480 people, though not all were Americans. Last year, 24,500 Americans gained dual U.S.-Canada citizenship.
Influx of Americans seeking dual citizenship
Since the new law took effect Dec. 15, immigration lawyers in the United States and Canada say they have been overwhelmed by clients seeking help submitting proof of citizenship applications.
The reason behind the drive varied among applicants.
Big picture view:
Some people were driven by politics, family heritage and job opportunities.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press.