Maple News reports a nationwide surge in requests from archives across Canada after a new law expanded citizenship by descent to anyone with a Canadian ancestor, provided they were born before December 15, 2025. The change removes the long-standing first-generation limit, creating a pathway to Canadian citizenship for millions of Americans with ancestral ties.
Archives nationwide are now grappling with unprecedented demand. Quebec’s Bibliothèque et Archives nationales (BAnQ) has seen a staggering spike in requests, while archives in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island report growing backlogs and longer processing times. In Nova Scotia, for example, January and February requests were ten times higher than the same period last year, and by March the backlog had risen to about 600 requests. The province’s archives received 1,354 requests from January through March 2026, more than five times the total for 2024.
New Brunswick’s provincial archives report a backlog exceeding 1,000 requests, with about 400 citizenship-related inquiries arriving each month. Archivists note the surge began in December and shows little sign of waning, with initial response times estimated at six to eight weeks. In Prince Edward Island, the Public Archives and Records Office reported a 143% increase in requests this year, and staff have indicated that they cannot provide a reliable timeline for completing orders due to the volume.
Why the spike? Americans have emerged as the largest group applying for proof of Canadian citizenship, far outpacing applicants from other countries. Many are not planning an immediate move to Canada; rather, they view Canadian citizenship or a Canadian passport as a strategic backup within a dual-citizenship framework.
Dual citizenship is possible between Canada and the United States, and many applicants see benefits in holding both. In practical terms, dual citizens can access rights in either country, including mobility and residency options. While the United States taxes its citizens on worldwide income, Canada taxes based on residency; dual citizens should seek professional tax guidance to understand their specific obligations.
For those unsure of eligibility, official government resources offer citizenship-by-descent criteria and calculators to help determine whether a person qualifies based on their ancestry. Maple News recommends consulting these official tools and documenting Canadian lineage with primary records to streamline the process.
As this is a developing story, Maple News will monitor the situation and provide updates on processing times, eligibility clarifications, and any policy changes related to citizenship by descent.