The number of applications for Canadian citizenship certificates from individuals worldwide has surged in recent months, with a significant influx from the United States, as reported by CBC News.
Following the enactment of the “Lost Canadian” legislation by Parliament late last year, there was a nearly 50% increase in the issuance of certificates to eligible individuals between April 1 and May 31, based on data obtained by CBC.
Under Bill C-3, individuals proving descent from a Canadian ancestor, even across multiple generations, can now obtain citizenship. This legislation was introduced after court rulings deemed the previous citizenship restrictions too limiting.
From mid-December, when Bill C-3 came into effect, to May 31, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) granted around 6,100 citizenship certificates to qualifying individuals, a significant increase from the 4,075 certificates issued by the end of March.
Additionally, another 17,390 individuals have received certificates due to having a Canadian parent, a requirement that has now changed with the new legislation.
Significant Increase in Citizenship Certificates
These certificates enable the 23,490 newly recognized Canadian citizens to apply for passports, reside, and work in Canada. However, they are ineligible to vote in federal elections unless they have resided in Canada at some point.
A large proportion of the newly recognized citizens between mid-December and May are Americans. Data from IRCC shows that 3,110 Americans qualified for citizenship certificates under Bill C-3, while an additional 8,125 Americans received certificates due to their Canadian-born parent.
Nevertheless, this uptick in applications is just the beginning of a much larger phenomenon.
The number of pending citizenship certificate applications has skyrocketed, reaching 70,400 in May and now totaling 121,800 awaiting decisions, with processing times doubling from 12 months in May to 25 months as of August 10.
Estimates suggest that the potential number of individuals eligible for Canadian citizenship under Bill C-3 varies widely, with projections ranging from hundreds of thousands to the parliamentary budget officer’s estimate of 115,000 individuals.
Despite initial expectations of modest application volumes post-Bill C-3, IRCC and Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab are now navigating the surge in demand and are committed to efficiently managing the process while upholding program integrity.
IRCC has maintained its document requirements but has enhanced clarity on its website and other public information sources.
Increased Demand for Genealogical Records
Simultaneously, Canadian archivists are experiencing a surge in requests for genealogical records necessary to establish lineage for Canadian citizenship certificate applications under Bill C-3.
Alyssa Hyduk, president of the Association of Canadian Archivists, notes a substantial increase in requests, with some institutions witnessing a 100-300% rise, including requests for centuries-old documents.
The complexity of these requests, largely from the U.S., poses challenges as they often involve pre-Confederation or obscure church records, requiring meticulous manual search efforts.
The association advocates for increased funding to support archives coping with the demand created by Bill C-3, particularly following the recent discontinuation of the Documentary Heritage Communities program.
Archivists are bracing for a potential surge in requests following the suspension and subsequent reinstatement of certain citizenship certificates due to document discrepancies, potentially necessitating further genealogical research.
IRCC has resolved some suspension cases and provided deadlines for submission of additional documents, with potential revocation for those failing to meet requirements.
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