Applications for Canadian citizenship certificates from individuals worldwide have seen a significant increase in recent months, with a notable surge in submissions from the United States, as per information uncovered by CBC News. The number of individuals who have obtained certificates following the adoption of the “Lost Canadian” legislation by Parliament late last year has risen by almost 50% between April 1 and May 31, according to fresh data obtained by CBC.
The implementation of Bill C-3 enables citizenship for those able to demonstrate descent from a Canadian ancestor, even if that ancestor emigrated from the country generations ago. This legislation was enacted after courts deemed the prior restriction of citizenship to the first generation born outside Canada as overly limiting.
From mid-December, when Bill C-3 came into effect, until May 31, around 6,100 citizenship certificates were granted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to eligible individuals. This marks an increase from 4,075 certificates issued under Bill C-3 from mid-December to March 31.
Moreover, an additional 17,390 individuals have received certificates due to having a Canadian parent. Previously, individuals born outside Canada needed a Canadian parent to be eligible for citizenship before the bill’s enactment.
These certificates allow the 23,490 newly recognized Canadian citizens to apply for Canadian passports and reside and work in Canada. However, Elections Canada notes that these individuals cannot participate in federal elections unless they have resided in Canada at some point in their lives.
Notably, individuals born in the U.S. constitute nearly half of those recognized between mid-December and the end of May. Data from IRCC shows that 3,110 Americans met the criteria for Canadian citizenship certificates under Bill C-3, with an additional 8,125 Americans obtaining certificates due to having a Canadian-born parent.
Nonetheless, this surge in applications is just the beginning. The number of pending citizenship certificate applications has skyrocketed, with approximately 121,800 individuals currently awaiting a decision. These applications range from seeking recognition as a citizen under Bill C-3 to requesting a standard replacement for a lost or stolen certificate.
Simultaneously, the estimated processing time for a decision has doubled from 12 months in May to 25 months as of August 10. The potential number of individuals eligible for Canadian citizenship under Bill C-3 varies widely, with projections suggesting that hundreds of thousands could qualify.
The Association of Canadian Archivists reports a substantial uptick in requests for genealogical records essential for proving descent from a Canadian ancestor for those seeking Canadian citizenship certificates under Bill C-3. Archivists are facing challenges with the evolving list of accepted documents by IRCC, leading to increased demand for funding to manage the surge in requests.
Moreover, archivists are bracing for a potential new wave of requests following IRCC’s suspension of approximately 100 certificates due to document issues. Efforts are underway to resolve these suspensions, with some individuals at risk of having their citizenship certificates revoked if they fail to provide satisfactory proof of Canadian ancestry.
