Millions of Americans are now eligible for Canadian citizenship and many are applying ‘just in case’

Millions of Americans Now Eligible for Canadian Citizenship, Many Apply as a Precaution

Following a significant legal shift in 2023, a long-standing rule that prevented Canadians born abroad from passing their citizenship to children born outside Canada has been overturned. This change has suddenly expanded eligibility for Canadian citizenship for countless Americans, particularly amid ongoing political instability in the United States. Ellen Robillard, a New York resident, is one such individual who has decided to pursue her own citizenship with her son, a move she had previously postponed due to the outdated law.

Robillard, 52, had considered the idea in 2016 after Donald Trump’s election, driven by her Democratic beliefs. However, she hesitated because the law at the time excluded children of American-born Canadians from automatic citizenship. The recent amendment, part of Canada’s Citizenship Act through Bill C-3, has reversed that restriction, allowing applicants to trace their heritage back generations. The adjustment has sparked renewed interest in Canadian citizenship among Americans, with many now seeking to secure their status as a safeguard.

A Political Climate Sparks a New Wave of Applications

As a local Democratic Committee leader in Rochester, Robillard feels increasingly vulnerable in her community. She has faced social media threats and personal intimidation, which have led to emotional strain and strained relationships. The political climate in the U.S., marked by unrest and uncertainty, has pushed her to act. A visit to her mother’s birthplace in Nova Scotia last year helped her reconnect with her Canadian roots, reinforcing her decision to apply.

“The experience of being there was so interesting. I felt like a different person there. It was so much less stressful. Everyone was nicer,” Robillard says.

With the new law, Robillard can now pass her citizenship to her son, who is 19. She views this as an option in case the U.S. continues to face challenges. “If things start deteriorating here with our economy, I know that I can just get in the car and go. It’s an option anyway,” she adds.

Meanwhile, the surge in applications has overwhelmed immigration consultants. Cassandra Fultz, based in Ottawa, reports her American client base has grown tenfold since the law changed, rising from 10 to 100 monthly requests. Fultz, who holds dual citizenship, notes that the interest is not just a fleeting trend. “There’s been a very steady increase in interest in moving to Canada since November 2024, which is unprecedented,” she says.

At the National Library and Archives of Québec (BAnQ), the demand for historical records has also risen sharply. In February 2025, the archive received 100 requests from the U.S., but by this year, that number had jumped to 1,500. Processing times for citizenship certificates remain lengthy, with approximately 50,900 Americans currently waiting for a decision.

Rachel Rabb, who left the U.S. in 2018, had hoped to escape the anti-immigrant policies and racial tensions of the Trump era. She settled in Latin America, believing she had left behind the fears of discrimination and hostility. However, her decision to leave was also influenced by her mixed heritage, with an African-American father and an Irish-German mother, which made her more sensitive to the political climate. Despite her efforts to distance herself, the ongoing situation in the U.S. continues to draw attention to the possibility of Canadian citizenship as a refuge.