Canada citizenship applications surge as new rules attract record number of Americans

Canada is seeing a sharp rise in citizenship applications following changes to its citizenship laws, with Americans making up the largest share of new applicants.

Data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada shows nearly 8,900 proof of citizenship applications were received in January up from 5,940 the previous year, an increase of almost 50 percent.

Of those, 2,470 applications came from the United States.

Between mid December and the end of January, the department received more than 12,000 applications. Nearly a quarter of processed claims for citizenship by descent were approved under the updated rules.

“It is important to note that proof of citizenship applications are not limited to applications from individuals who applied on the basis of citizenship by descent,” a spokesperson told National Post.

“They also include other categories of proof of citizenship applications (e.g., individuals born in Canada but applying for a certificate, individuals applying for a replacement certificate).”

The surge follows changes under Bill C-3, which expand eligibility for citizenship by descent. The update comes after a court ruling found earlier restrictions unconstitutional.

Under the new framework, some individuals born outside Canada can now qualify for citizenship if their parent, also born abroad to a Canadian, spent at least three years living in Canada before their birth.