Immigration lawyers across Canada report a surge in inquiries from Americans seeking citizenship following the passage of Bill C-3 in December. The law removes the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent, allowing individuals to claim citizenship through ancestors born in Canada, with no generational cap.
Jessica Jensen, a partner at MLT Aikins, says the political climate in the U.S. is driving applications. “There are a lot of folks looking for work or resident opportunities in Canada,” she told Global News. “Having a great-grandparent who was Canadian has really opened that door.”
The influx brings complications, especially for Americans who renounced Canadian citizenship to obtain U.S. citizenship between the 1940s and 1970s. Many now question whether those prior renunciations disqualify them.
Manitoba Vital Statistics reports a dramatic increase in citizenship-related applications from U.S. addresses: 48 in 2021, 71 in 2024, 225 in 2025, and 256 in just the first part of 2026-a nearly five-fold jump.
Winnipeg immigration lawyer Alastair Clarke says lawmakers didn't anticipate the volume. “We’re seeing applications from individuals four or five generations removed from a Canadian.” He emphasized many Americans are “looking for a backup plan” due to anxiety over the Trump administration, while others seek to reconnect with Canadian roots-a key intention of the legislation.