Surge of Americans exploring Canadian citizenship following major legislative changes. A growing number of Americans are seeking to confirm whether their Canadian ancestry now makes them Canadian citizens, following recent amendments to Canada’s Citizenship Act that have significantly broadened eligibility for people born abroad.
The change—introduced through Bill C3 (An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act)—has prompted a sharp rise in inquiries from U.S. residents with Canadian roots. Many are descendants of the historic migration that brought more than a million French-speaking Canadians to New England between the mid1800s and early 20th century.
“Over the last several months, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in Americans contacting our office to ask whether an ancestor born in Canada may mean that they are actually Canadian citizens,” said Valerie Kleinman, Canadian immigration lawyer at Green and Spiegel LLP. “For many families, Bill C3 reopened a door that had been closed for generations.”
READ: ‘ Side hustles’ on H-1B? Hidden risks and where immigration law draws the line (April 9, 2026)
Expanded eligibility under bill C3
For decades, Canada restricted citizenship by descent to the first generation born outside the country. Bill C3, which came into force on December 15, 2025, lifted that limit for people born before the effective date, making citizenship retroactively available to individuals who would not have qualified under prior laws.
As a result, thousands of Americans with Canadian grandparents, great-grandparents, or earlier ancestors may now, in fact, be Canadian citizens.
Document searches driving new demand
While eligibility has widened, the process of proving ancestry can be challenging, especially for families whose records date back a century or more. Quebec civil and parish archives—home to some of the continent’s oldest genealogical collections—have seen an unprecedented spike in requests from U.S. residents seeking certified documents.
“The legal test is straightforward,” said Kleinman. “The difficult part can be tracking down accurate records. Name changes, anglicized spellings, and missing parish information are extremely common in historical Quebec documents.”
READ: Did getting marriage-based Green Card just got tougher? What you need to know (April 8, 2026)
Processing times rising in Canada
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is currently processing tens of thousands of applications for Canadian citizenship certificates, the official document required to confirm status. At the present time, published processing times average approximately 10 months, though cases can vary based on complexity.
Growing interest among descendants of Canadians
For many Americans, the renewed path to citizenship represents more than a second passport.
“We’re hearing from people who grew up with Frenchspeaking grandparents and have memories visiting Canada and learning about their heritage,” said Kleinman. “This change is giving them a way to formally reconnect with a culture they’ve always felt part of.”