Canada is seeing a sharp increase in citizenship applications following changes to its citizenship laws, with Americans making up the largest share of new applicants.
Data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada shows it received about 8,900 applications for proof of citizenship in January, up from 5,940 the previous year, an increase of nearly 50 per cent.
Of these, 2,470 applications came from the United States.
From mid-December to the end of January, the department received more than 12,000 applications. Nearly a quarter of the claims processed for citizenship by descent were approved under the updated rules.
“It is important to note that proof of citizenship applications are not limited to applications from individuals who have applied for citizenship by descent,” a spokesperson told the National Post.
“They also include other categories of proof of citizenship applications (for example, individuals born in Canada but applying for a certificate, individuals applying for a replacement certificate).”
The jump comes after changes under Bill C-3, which expands eligibility for citizenship based on descent. The update comes after a court ruling found earlier restrictions unconstitutional.
Under the new framework, certain individuals born outside Canada can now qualify for citizenship if their parent, who was born abroad to a Canadian citizen, has spent at least three years in Canada before their birth.
