Applications for Canadian citizenship certificates have surged globally in recent months, driven by a significant uptick in submissions from the United States, as per CBC News findings. The issuance of certificates under Parliament’s “Lost Canadian” legislation has spiked by almost 50% between April 1 and May 31, based on fresh CBC-acquired data.
The enactment of Bill C-3 enables citizenship for individuals proving descent from a Canadian ancestor, regardless of how many generations have passed since that ancestor left Canada. Following the legislation’s implementation in mid-December, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) granted around 6,100 citizenship certificates by May 31 to those newly eligible, compared to 4,075 certificates issued by March 31.
Additionally, 17,390 individuals have obtained certificates due to having a Canadian parent, a requirement that was mandatory before the bill’s adoption. Notably, around half of the newly recognized citizens between mid-December and May hail from the U.S., with 3,110 Americans qualifying under Bill C-3, and another 8,125 based on having a Canadian-born parent.
However, the surge in citizenship certificate applications awaiting processing is remarkable. In April, about 56,000 applications awaited decisions, escalating to 70,400 by May and now reaching 121,800 pending applications. The estimated processing time for decisions has doubled from 12 months in May to 25 months as of August 10.
Estimates on the potential number of individuals eligible for Canadian citizenship under Bill C-3 vary widely, with historical migration patterns suggesting that hundreds of thousands may qualify. The Parliamentary Budget Officer approximates that approximately 115,000 individuals could be impacted by the legislative change.
The influx of applications has led to a spike in requests for genealogical records required to demonstrate lineage for Canadian citizenship certificates. Archivists report a surge in requests, some dating back hundreds of years, with demands increasing by 100 to 300%. The Association of Canadian Archivists is advocating for increased funding to meet the rising demand for records necessitated by Bill C-3.
Moreover, concerns have arisen regarding the suspension of an estimated 100 citizenship certificates in June due to document discrepancies. While most suspensions have been resolved, some applicants may need to provide additional genealogical records to maintain their certificates. This development has prompted calls for clarity and transparency from government officials amid the evolving citizenship application landscape.