Canada is experiencing a genuine boom in citizenship applications, driven not only by domestic policy but also by geopolitical anxiety across the ocean. After courts ruled that previous restrictions were unconstitutional, the country's doors opened to those whose ancestors left centuries ago. However, statistics from recent months show that the primary beneficiaries of these changes are US citizens seeking refuge from internal instability.
Lifting Restrictions and Bill C-3
Until recently, obtaining Canadian citizenship by descent (jus sanguinis) was available only to the first generation born abroad. This rule, which limited the rights of emigrants' descendants, was struck down by courts as unconstitutional. Following this, Bill C-3 was passed, radically changing the rules of the game.
Now, the right to citizenship extends not only to children of Canadians but also to grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. This has opened the path for people whose relatives emigrated as far back as the 1800s. The result was immediate: in just the first three months of the new provisions, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 4,075 citizenship certificates.
The American Factor: Fear as the Engine of Migration
Although legislative changes affected nationals from 44 countries worldwide, statistics show a clear skew toward the southern neighbors. The United States confidently leads the list of countries from which applications are received. The government has already approved 1,955 applications from individuals born in the US. For comparison: Mexico is in second place with 900 successful applications, while the UK is represented by only 140 applicants.
Why Americans? Lisa Middlemiss, an immigration lawyer in Montreal working in this field, confirms that the political situation in the US has become the main catalyst. According to her, the overwhelming majority of clients are Americans who view a Canadian passport as a reliable "Plan B".
"In some cases, it is a desire to have a backup option in case, in their view, the situation worsens... in other cases, they perceive it as an urgent matter," the lawyer notes. Many US citizens are worried about their children's future and are seeking safety in a country traditionally associated with stability and social well-being.
Bureaucratic Boom and Archival Collapse
The possibility of obtaining a passport "through ancestors" has attracted the attention of thousands, but the path to a Canadian passport has proven thorny. Applicants must provide irrefutable proof of their descent, which often requires a deep dive into family history. Birth and marriage records of ancestors are often kept in the archives of the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
The mass request for these documents has created a serious burden on government services. Quebec government spokesperson Catherine Poulin reported that since January alone, the department has received 3,800 requests for archival documents from foreigners. This has caused significant delays: the waiting time for citizenship confirmation has increased from the usual five months to twelve.
Currently, there are more than 70,000 applications pending review at IRCC. The bureaucratic machine is trying to adapt to new realities, but lawyers and officials are barely keeping up with the flow of inquiries.
Other Faces of Migration: From Old Rules to New Realities
Despite the frenzy surrounding the new law, old rules continue to apply. Under them, another 13,310 people received citizenship confirmation for the first generation. This testifies to a global interest in Canadian stability that is not limited to political refugees from the US.
However, emigrating to Canada is not just about the romance of mountains and lakes. The country is changing the rules of the game for those already on its territory. Recently, rules for refugees were changed: now, for example, Ukrainian settlers will have to pay out of their own pockets for certain medical services.
Experts and emigrants themselves remind us that Canada is not "beautiful Europe." The country has its own shortcomings that new residents must face. Nevertheless, for thousands of people, especially from the US, this "insufficient" option currently looks like the most reliable salvation in an unstable world.