Thousands of 'lost Canadians' have applied for dual citizenship - is Canada ready?

Changes to Canadian citizenship rules have led to thousands of new applications - many coming from the US.

Thousands of 'lost Canadians' are applying for dual citizenship following a rule change, with many applications originating from the United States. A new law allows descendants to claim citizenship if they can prove an ancestral tie to Canada, leading to a surge in applications since December 2025. The influx has overwhelmed some Canadian institutions, while applicants face challenges in proving their lineage due to historical record-keeping practices.

A new Canadian law has led to a surge in citizenship applications from Americans with Canadian ancestry. The legislation, which came into effect in December 2025, allows individuals to claim citizenship by proving an ancestral tie to Canada, resulting in thousands of new applications, many from the U.S.

Following Canada's recent changes to citizenship laws, thousands of individuals, particularly from the United States, are applying for Canadian citizenship. The new legislation, effective December 2025, allows descendants to claim citizenship by proving an ancestral tie to Canada, leading to a significant increase in applications.