Americans Nearly Half of New Canadian Citizenship Approvals

Americans accounted for nearly half of all new Canadian citizenship approvals granted under recently expanded rules, highlighting a significant surge in applications from U.S. residents seeking to formalize ancestral ties to Canada. Official data shows a sharp increase in approvals since the legislative changes took effect in late 2025.

Between December 15, 2025, and March 31, 2026, a total of 4,075 individuals worldwide were granted citizenship under the new descent provisions. Of these, 1,955 approvals—approximately 48 percent—were for applicants residing in the United States. This figure was more than double the number granted to applicants from Mexico, which ranked second with 900 approvals. The monthly approval rate under the new category jumped from 275 additional cases in December 2025 to over 1,000 per month in early 2026, reaching 1,405 approvals in March.

The expansion dramatically broadened eligibility for descendants of Canadian citizens born outside the country. Previously, citizenship by descent was generally limited to the first generation born abroad. Following a 2023 court ruling that found this restriction unconstitutional, the federal government revised the...