BackLAW
Millions Of Americans May Now Also Be Considered Canadian Under New Law
Canada expanded citizenship-by-descent rules, extending eligibility beyond a single generation for descendants of Canadians. Since the change took effect, American applicants have surged, with processing times and costs varying widely.
Why It Matters
The change could dramatically increase the pool of people eligible for Canadian citizenship and influence migration choices, cross-border mobility, and policy discussions on dual citizenship.
Timeline
4 Events
April 23, 2026: Article reports surge in applications and ongoing processing
April 23, 2026
The article notes a surge in inquiries from Americans after the law change, with immigration lawyers saying their practices are flooded. The IRCC indicates certificate processing times around 10 months and more than 56,000 people awaiting a decision. The article also discusses costs, including a base certificate fee of 75 Canadian dollars and higher legal/genealogical fees when records must be located.
January 31, 2026: IRCC reports progress during the Dec 15–Jan 31 window
January 31, 2026
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reported that from December 15 to January 31, it confirmed citizenship by descent for 1,480 people, though not all were Americans.
December 15, 2025: Canada implements expanded citizenship-by-descent rules
December 15, 2025
The new law expands citizenship by descent beyond a single generation. It allows eligibility for anyone born before December 15, 2025 who can prove a direct Canadian ancestor (grandparent, great-grandparent, or more distant ancestor). Under the law, descendants are considered citizens but must provide proof to obtain a certificate of citizenship. Those born on or after December 15 must show that their Canadian parent lived in Canada for 1,095 days.
2025: 24,500 Americans gain dual citizenship with Canada (last year)
2025
The article notes that in 2025, 24,500 Americans gained dual U.S.-Canada citizenship, reflecting growing interest in Canadian citizenship before the new law took effect.