Thousands More Americans Become Canadian As Applications Surge
Summary
Canada has expanded its citizenship-by-descent law, allowing more people with Canadian ancestors to become citizens. From December 2025 to March 2026, thousands of Americans applied and received Canadian citizenship under this rule, reflecting growing interest in dual citizenship and having a backup residency.Key Facts
- Between December 15, 2025, and March 31, 2026, 4,075 people worldwide were granted Canadian citizenship under the new citizenship-by-descent law.
- Almost half of these new citizenships went to Americans (1,955 people).
- The law changed after Canada’s Supreme Court found previous rules limiting citizenship to the first generation born outside Canada unconstitutional.
- Before the change, only direct children of Canadian citizens born abroad could claim citizenship; now more distant descendants qualify.
- Mexican applicants were the second largest group with 900 approvals, followed by Bolivia and the UK.
- The total citizenship approvals during the same period using old rules included 6,135 Americans.
- Many Americans are applying due to family heritage but also as a "Plan B" because of political and economic uncertainties in the U.S.
- A Gallup survey shows that 1 in 5 Americans want to emigrate, and interest in living abroad is increasing.
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