Canada has opened the door to a massive influx of potential new citizens following a legal change that allows individuals with ancestral ties to the country to claim citizenship. Since the law took effect in December, Canadian immigration officials have been inundated with over 12,000 applications in just over a month.
The legislation, which was spurred by an Ontario court ruling, permits descendants of those who became Canadian citizens on or after January 1, 1947, to apply for recognition of their status.
While the application fee is a modest C$75, many applicants are spending thousands on genealogists and legal fees to navigate the complex process of proving historical family links. The surge has overwhelmed administrative systems, with experts noting that the bureaucracy is struggling to manage the volume of requests.
For some applicants, the move is driven by a desire to reconnect with heritage, while others openly admit that the current political landscape in the United States has prompted them to seek a second passport as a potential escape hatch.
Despite the interest in securing dual citizenship, many applicants remain rooted in their American lives, viewing the Canadian status primarily as a safety net rather than an immediate invitation to relocate.
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