Applications for Canadian citizenship certificates have been surging globally in recent months, with a notable increase in submissions from the United States, as revealed by CBC News. The adoption of the “Lost Canadian” legislation by Parliament late last year led to a nearly 50% rise in the number of individuals receiving certificates between April 1 and May 31, based on data from CBC.
The implementation of Bill C-3 enables individuals to obtain citizenship if they can demonstrate descent from a Canadian ancestor, even if that ancestor emigrated generations ago. Following the enactment of Bill C-3 in mid-December, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) granted approximately 6,100 citizenship certificates to eligible applicants by May 31, up from 4,075 certificates issued before March 31.
Moreover, an additional 17,390 individuals have received certificates due to having a Canadian parent, whereas previously, only those born outside Canada with a Canadian parent were eligible for citizenship.
These certificates allow the 23,490 newly recognized Canadian citizens to apply for Canadian passports and reside and work in the country. However, they are not eligible to vote in federal elections unless they have resided in Canada at some point in their lives.
Notably, a substantial number of these new citizens are from the United States, with 3,110 Americans qualifying for Canadian citizenship certificates under Bill C-3 and another 8,125 receiving certificates due to having a Canadian-born parent.
Despite these figures, the volume of pending citizenship certificate applications has surged, with around 121,800 individuals currently awaiting a decision, compared to 56,000 in April and 70,400 in May. The estimated wait time for a decision has also increased from 12 months in May to 25 months as of August 10.
Estimates suggest that a significant number of individuals may be eligible for Canadian citizenship under Bill C-3, with projections varying widely. The parliamentary budget officer has estimated that up to 115,000 people could be impacted by the legislative change.
Furthermore, archivists in Canada are experiencing a spike in requests for genealogical records needed to prove lineage for Canadian citizenship certificate applications under Bill C-3. The Association of Canadian Archivists reports a substantial increase in requests, straining resources and impacting other archival services.
The association is advocating for increased funding to meet the heightened demand for records resulting from Bill C-3. Archivists are facing challenges as the list of acceptable documents by IRCC continues to evolve, leading to uncertainties in document requirements for applicants.