Applications for Canadian citizenship certificates have been surging globally in recent months, with a significant influx from the United States, as per information obtained by CBC News. The number of individuals who have been granted certificates following the enactment of the “Lost Canadian” legislation by Parliament increased by almost 50% from April 1 to May 31, based on recent data.
The implementation of Bill C-3 allows individuals to attain citizenship by demonstrating descent from a Canadian ancestor, regardless of how many generations back that ancestor left the country. This legislation was introduced after courts deemed the previous restriction of citizenship to the first generation born outside Canada too limiting.
Between mid-December, when Bill C-3 came into effect, and May 31, around 6,100 citizenship certificates were issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to eligible individuals. This marked an increase from the 4,075 certificates granted from mid-December to March 31 due to Bill C-3.
Additionally, 17,390 individuals have received certificates due to having a Canadian parent. Before the bill’s enactment, those born outside Canada were required to have a Canadian parent to qualify for citizenship.
The issued certificates enable the 23,490 newly recognized Canadian citizens to apply for Canadian passports, reside, and work in Canada. However, according to Elections Canada, these individuals cannot vote in federal elections unless they have resided in Canada at some point in their lives.
A significant portion of the newly recognized citizens, nearly half, are from the United States. Data from IRCC reveals that 3,110 Americans have qualified for Canadian citizenship certificates under Bill C-3, with an additional 8,125 Americans granted certificates because one of their parents was born in Canada.
Despite these numbers, the volume of pending citizenship certificate applications has surged. In April, approximately 56,000 applications awaited processing, increasing to 70,400 in May. Currently, IRCC reports that 121,800 individuals are awaiting decisions on their applications, which could range from seeking recognition under Bill C-3 to requesting a replacement for a lost or stolen certificate.
Moreover, the estimated waiting 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 some estimates pointing to hundreds of thousands of Canadians who migrated to the U.S. over a span of more than a century.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab had previously anticipated moderate application volumes following the implementation of Bill C-3, emphasizing preparedness and efficiency in processing applications. IRCC has maintained its document requirements while enhancing clarity on its website to assist applicants.
Simultaneously, archivists in Canada are experiencing a surge in requests for genealogical records to validate eligibility for Canadian citizenship certificates under Bill C-3. The increased demand has strained archivists’ resources and highlighted the need for additional funding to support record retrieval and processing.
With a potential new wave of genealogical record requests on the horizon, archivists are preparing for increased workload, especially after IRCC suspended numerous certificates due to document issues. The association representing archivists is advocating for funding to address the rising demand generated by Bill C-3.
