A change to Canada’s citizenship rules is putting a second passport within reach for millions of people—including many Americans who may not realize they already qualify.
In December 2025, Canada enacted changes to its Citizenship Act that significantly broaden who can claim Canadian citizenship by descent. The update removes a rule that previously limited citizenship to just the first generation born outside Canada, opening the door to newly eligible individuals with Canadian grandparents or even more distant ancestors.
For travelers, the change could have real implications. Canadian citizenship brings the right to live and work in Canada—and the ability to apply for a Canadian passport, which could make international travel simpler.
Here’s what to know about the new rules, who they apply to, and what the process looks like for Americans hoping to claim citizenship north of the border.
Why Canada changed the law
Until recently, Canada’s citizenship rules included what was known as the “first-generation limit.”
Introduced in 2009, the rule meant that Canadian citizens could pass citizenship to children born abroad—but those children could not automatically pass it to the next generation if they also had kids outside Canada.
The new law removes much of that restriction, allowing citizenship to be passed down further through family lines—as long as applicants can prove their ancestry. The update follows a 2023 court decision that found parts of the earlier law unconstitutional.
Who qualifies for Canadian citizenship
The law primarily benefits people whose citizenship claims were previously blocked by the generational limit.
Americans may qualify if they can trace their family tree back to a Canadian-born ancestor. However, even if you do qualify, you won’t automatically receive proof of Canadian citizenship—you’ll have to apply for a citizenship certificate, which confirms your legal status as a Canadian citizen. That process involves submitting documents showing the family chain.
“At a minimum, you would need to clearly document your ancestor’s claim to Canadian citizenship, for example, their Canadian birth certificate or evidence of their naturalization in Canada,” Henry Chang, an immigration lawyer with the Canada-based Denton’s law firm, told Afar. “You also need to trace the lineage from that ancestor to you. So, for each generation, you would need to provide a birth certificate showing the names of your parents, so you can prove the lineage from that original Canadian ancestor. You also need to document any name changes and demonstrate that none of your ancestors lost their Canadian citizenship before the birth of their child.”
Chang added that sometimes if it’s not possible to obtain this kind of primary evidence, you might still be able to establish your claim using secondary evidence, which could include documents such as census records and obituaries, although the likelihood of success will be lower.
However, Chang noted, while most “lost Canadians” (individuals who believe they are entitled to citizenship but were denied it under the old rules) are now able to claim Canadian citizenship, there are a few notable exceptions. Being born in Canada does not automatically confer citizenship if, at the time of birth, neither parent was a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and one of the parents was in the country on official diplomatic or international duty. That includes foreign diplomats, consular officers, staff of foreign governments, and employees of certain international organizations (such as United Nations agencies) who are granted diplomatic privileges.
Those who wouldn’t be considered include descendants of those who formally renounced their Canadian citizenship as adults and former citizens whose Canadian citizenship was revoked for fraud.
Currently, the Canadian government estimates that the processing time for citizenship certificates is about 10 months. However, Chang said his firm has already seen an increase in inquiries, so the timeline could extend as more people apply.
What Canadian citizenship means for travelers
For travelers, holding Canadian citizenship comes with several advantages.
Canadian citizens can live and work in Canada without a visa or residency permit. They also gain access to a Canadian passport, which ranks among the world’s more powerful travel documents (slightly stronger than the United States, according to the Henley Passport Index) and offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to many destinations.
Importantly, both the United States and Canada allow dual citizenship, meaning Americans who qualify generally do not have to give up their U.S. passports.
How to apply for Canadian citizenship and a passport
How to obtain a Canadian citizenship certificate
In order to apply for what is called a Canadian citizenship certificate (or proof of citizenship) you can either apply online or by paper via mail (though if you are applying under the newly expanded rules, you will likely need to apply by paper). If you are applying from the U.S., there are two addresses you can send your application to. The processing fee for a citizenship certificate is $75 Canadian dollars (or US$55, based on current conversion rates). As noted above, the wait time for a Canadian citizenship certificate is currently about 10 months.
How to obtain a Canadian passport
Once you get your citizenship certificate, you will need to start a separate process for obtaining a Canadian passport from the United States, with a fee of $190 Canadian dollars (US$138) for a five-year passport, and $260 Canadian dollars (US$188) for a 10-year passport. You will need to provide proof of Canadian citizenship; an ID; two passport photos; a guarantor signature (like a notary) on your application, on one photo, and on the accompanying documents; and two references who have known you for at least two years. There is an application form online that you can print out and then submit all your documents via mail. On its passport information page, Canadian officials note that they “aim to process applications from the U.S. within 20 business days, plus mailing time.”
