A recent change to Canadian law has triggered a surge of applications from Americans claiming citizenship through ancestral ties, as tens of thousands seek formal recognition under a measure that took effect Dec. 15. Bill C-3 expands the right to citizenship by descent beyond the previous parent-to-child rule, allowing anyone born before that date to claim Canadian citizenship if they can prove a direct ancestor — a grandparent, great-grandparent or more distant relative — was Canadian.
Under the reform, descendants are legally considered Canadian; they need only apply for a certificate of citizenship to formalize that status. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said processing times for a certificate are currently around 10 months and that more than 56,000 people are awaiting a decision. From Dec. 15 through Jan. 31 the department confirmed citizenship by descent for 1,480 people, though not all were U.S. applicants. For context, IRCC reported that 24,500 Americans gained dual U.S.-Canada citizenship last year.
Immigration lawyers on both sides of the border say demand has spiked sharply. Vancouver-area attorney Amandeep Hayer, a lawmaker advocate for C-3, said his practice previously handled roughly 200 citizenship cases a year but is now fielding more than 20 consultations per day. “You are Canadian, and you’re considered to be one your whole life,” Hayer said, describing the current work as largely about obtaining recognition of an existing right. In Bellingham, Washington, Nicholas Berning of Boundary Bay Law said his office is “pretty much flooded” and has shifted other work to prioritize these applications.
Americans pursuing dual citizenship cite varied motives, with some pointing to recent U.S. political developments. Michelle Cunha of Bedford, Massachusetts, said she began the application process after three decades of political activism and concluded Canada offered a more secure or aligned future for her values. “I put in my best effort for 30 years,” she said. Others describe a desire for a practical backup or new opportunities: Maureen Sullivan of Naples, Florida, called the law “this little gift” that eased plans to safeguard her family’s future, and Minnesota resident Zack Loud said formal citizenship pushed Canada higher on his list for overseas work prospects.
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The formal application fee is modest — 75 Canadian dollars (about US$55) — but ancillary costs can rise if applicants hire lawyers or genealogists to assemble documentation. Cunha estimated her total cost using an attorney at roughly US$6,500, while some applicants say they have completed the process using guidance from online forums; one applicant, Mary Mangan of Somerville, Massachusetts, filed in January and believes many applicants could navigate the application without a lawyer.
The broader public response in Canada has been mixed. Carleton University international affairs professor Fen Hampson said Canadians are generally welcoming but that concerns exist about people becoming “Canadians of convenience” with tenuous ties to the country. He warned a surge in applications from affluent foreigners could create perceptions of unfairness and potentially slow processing for refugees and asylum-seekers, noting Canadians’ sensitivity to perceived “queue-jumping.”
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IRCC figures and lawyers’ accounts suggest the initial months of implementation have produced substantial demand that may continue as awareness of the law spreads. For now, descendants of Canadian-born ancestors who meet the documentation requirements may find the pathway open but should expect several months of processing and, depending on their approach, costs beyond the basic application fee.
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