Millions of Americans are now eligible to claim dual citizenship with Canada and obtain a Canadian passport under the country’s updated citizenship law.
The new legislation automatically grants eligibility for Canadian citizenship to individuals with Canadian ancestry. It does not matter where a person was born, whether their parents or grandparents ever lived in Canada, or even whether those relatives held Canadian passports.
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Anyone born before December 15, 2025, who can trace their family lineage to a Canadian ancestor may qualify under Canada’s citizenship-by-descent rules and can apply for proof of Canadian citizenship. Once citizenship is confirmed, applicants can then apply for a Canadian passport.
The rules apply equally to both biological and adopted children born outside Canada.
The change impacts Americans across the country, particularly in New England, where millions are believed to have Canadian roots tied to migration waves between 1870 and 1930. Estimates suggest that around three million people in the region alone may now qualify for Canadian citizenship.
Americans who secure dual citizenship can enjoy the benefits and protections offered by both countries, including the right to live and work in Canada permanently. Holding a Canadian passport may also provide broader global travel access compared to a US passport in some destinations.
To obtain proof of citizenship, applicants must provide documentation connecting them to a Canadian ancestor, such as birth certificates, baptismal records, or other family records. Current processing times for proof of citizenship applications are approximately 11 months.
Canadian citizenship does not create tax obligations
Obtaining Canadian citizenship does not automatically create Canadian tax responsibilities. Unlike the United States, which taxes citizens regardless of where they live, Canada taxes individuals primarily based on residency.
This means Americans who gain Canadian citizenship but continue living in the US, without establishing residency or major financial ties in Canada, generally will not owe Canadian income tax or need to file Canadian tax returns.
Those who later move to Canada can also benefit from the US-Canada tax treaty, which helps prevent double taxation by allowing certain taxes paid in one country to offset obligations in the other.
About the citizenship-by-descent changes
Citizenship by descent applies to people born outside Canada. In most cases, anyone born in Canada automatically receives citizenship through birthright citizenship, except in limited situations such as children of foreign diplomats.
The updated rules came into effect on December 15, 2025, through Bill C-3, officially titled “An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act.”
Before the amendment, Canadian citizenship by descent was restricted to only one generation born outside Canada under a rule known as the first-generation limit (FGL). Introduced in 2009, the FGL was declared unconstitutional by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in December 2023.
Following that ruling, the Canadian government passed Bill C-3 to remove the first-generation limit for individuals born before December 15, 2025. For children born after that date, an exception to the rule now exists if the Canadian parent can demonstrate a substantial connection to Canada, defined as having lived in the country for at least three years before the child’s birth or adoption.
