Applications for Canadian citizenship certificates have surged globally in recent months, driven by a substantial increase in submissions from the United States, as per information obtained by CBC News. Following Parliament’s approval of the “Lost Canadian” legislation late last year, the number of individuals who have obtained certificates rose by almost 50% between April 1 and May 31.
Bill C-3 enables citizenship for individuals able to demonstrate descent from a Canadian ancestor, even if the ancestor left the country many generations ago. From mid-December to May 31, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) granted about 6,100 citizenship certificates to those meeting the new criteria, a significant rise from the 4,075 certificates issued before March 31.
Moreover, an additional 17,390 individuals have received certificates due to having a Canadian parent. Before the enactment of the bill, individuals born outside Canada were required to have a Canadian parent to qualify for citizenship.
The newly recognized Canadian citizens, totaling 23,490, can now apply for Canadian passports and reside and work within the country. Nevertheless, according to Elections Canada, they are ineligible to vote in federal elections unless they have resided in Canada at some point in their lives.
Notably, nearly half of the individuals recognized between mid-December and May were born in the U.S. Approximately 3,110 Americans qualified for Canadian citizenship certificates under Bill C-3, while another 8,125 Americans were granted certificates due to having a Canadian-born parent.
The number of pending citizenship certificate applications has skyrocketed, with around 70,400 applications awaiting processing in May and a current backlog of 121,800 applications. The estimated processing time has doubled from 12 to 25 months as of August 10.
Estimates suggest that a significant number of individuals could be eligible for Canadian citizenship under Bill C-3, with some pointing to historical immigration trends as a basis. The parliamentary budget officer approximates that around 115,000 people could be impacted by the legislative change.
Despite initial expectations of moderate application volumes, the surge in applications has prompted IRCC to enhance processing efforts while maintaining program integrity. The influx of requests for genealogical records required to substantiate lineage under Bill C-3 has led to a strain on archivists, who are experiencing a surge in requests, particularly from the U.S.
The Association of Canadian Archivists has highlighted the need for increased funding to support archives coping with the escalating demand for genealogical records. The evolving list of acceptable documents by IRCC has further complicated the process, prompting calls for more resources to address the situation effectively.
In a recent development, IRCC suspended around 100 issued certificates due to document discrepancies, potentially requiring affected individuals to provide additional proof of Canadian ancestry. The department has resolved 83 suspensions while issuing notices to the remaining 17 individuals to rectify their applications within 60 days, failing which their certificates could be revoked. Opposition voices, including New Democrat immigration critic Jenny Kwan, have raised concerns over the suspension issue, urging for clarity and resolution.