Canada expanded its citizenship rules in December 2025 to allow descendants beyond first-generation abroad-born individuals to claim citizenship, following a 2023 court ruling that found the previous restriction unconstitutional [1, 2]. The new law limits indefinite citizenship transmission if the new citizen has never lived in Canada [2].
Since the law change, monthly approvals for citizenship by descent surged from 275 in December 2025 to over 1,000 per month in early 2026 [1]. Specifically, from January to March 2026, approvals rose steadily from 1,140 to 1,405 per month [2]. Approximately 48% of the additional citizenship approvals were from applicants living in the United States [1, 2].
The increase in American applicants reflects political discontent and tensions experienced under former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration [1, 2]. Nick Berning noted that while most new citizens remain in the U.S., "they hope to have an escape route if the situation becomes untenable" [2]. William Hunnewell added that many applicants seek citizenship "to give their families more options, allowing children to live or study in Canada without requiring visas" [2].
The broadened citizenship rules have significantly increased access for second-generation and further descendants of Canadians abroad, enabling a greater number of Americans with Canadian heritage to acquire citizenship. Despite the expansion, the requirement for having lived in Canada at some point remains to prevent indefinite transmission [2].
Monthly approvals and the large share of U.S. applicants highlight the law’s immediate impact. Canadian officials will continue processing applications under these rules through 2026, with further updates expected as the citizenship program adjusts to higher demand [1, 2].
