Applications for Canadian citizenship certificates have surged globally in recent months, with a significant increase in submissions from the United States, as reported by CBC News. The adoption of the “Lost Canadian” legislation by Parliament last year resulted in a nearly 50% rise in the number of individuals who have obtained certificates between April 1 and May 31, based on newly acquired data from CBC.
The implementation of Bill C-3 enables individuals to attain citizenship by proving their lineage to a Canadian ancestor, even if that ancestor emigrated from Canada many generations ago. This legislation was enacted in response to court rulings deeming the previous restriction of citizenship to only the first generation born outside of Canada as overly limiting.
Since mid-December, approximately 6,100 citizenship certificates have been granted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to eligible individuals under Bill C-3, a significant increase from the 4,075 certificates issued in the preceding period until March 31. Additionally, 17,390 people have received certificates due to having a Canadian parent, which was a requirement before the adoption of the bill.
The issuance of these certificates allows the newly recognized 23,490 Canadian citizens to apply for Canadian passports, reside, and work in Canada. However, they are ineligible to vote in federal elections unless they have resided in Canada at some point.
Americans constitute nearly half of the individuals granted citizenship certificates between mid-December and the end of May, with 3,110 Americans qualifying for certificates under Bill C-3 and another 8,125 through having a Canadian parent.
Despite the significant increase in granted certificates, the number of pending citizenship certificate applications has skyrocketed, reaching 121,800 individuals awaiting a decision. This surge has led to a doubling of the estimated wait time for a decision, from 12 months in May to 25 months as of August 10.
Estimates indicate that a substantial number of individuals may be eligible for Canadian citizenship under Bill C-3, with the parliamentary budget officer suggesting that around 115,000 people could be impacted by the legislative change. The surge in applications following the bill’s implementation has prompted calls for increased funding for archives to meet the rising demand for genealogical records required to prove descent from a Canadian ancestor.