I was on the phone with my dad the other day when he asked if I'd heard about the changes to Canada's citizenship rules. They had removed the first-generation limit for citizenship by descent. Now, almost anyone who can prove ties to a Canadian ancestor is automatically and retroactively a Canadian citizen.

My family has always been aware of our ties to Canada: as far as I can tell, all four of my grandparents were first-generation Americans whose parents had moved to the U.S. from Canada. But with citizenship limited to the first generation, there was no path for me to claim that citizenship more a century later.

The new rules change all that. By removing the first-generation limit, Canada has opened the doors for potentially millions of Americans to claim citizenship and gain the right to live and work in Canada.

Here's what you need to know about the changes to Canadian citizenship, why it matters for LGBTQ+ Americans, and how to find out if you're eligible for it.

Canadian Citizenship by Descent: What's Changed?

Until recently, children born overseas to Canadian citizens could claim Canadian citizenship — but future descendants could not. As of December 15, 2025, Bill C-3 removes that limit. Now, you can claim Canadian citizenship if your grandparent, great-grandparent, or even great-great-grandparent, was Canadian.

This is a game-changer for millions of Americans who are thinking about moving to Canada — or at least want the option to in today's political climate.

According to Annick de Bellefeuille, the number of U.S. citizens with potential ties to Canada is no small number: "By 1900, more than half of the population born in Québec resided in the US," seeking work in New England factories. Other groups of French-Canadians settled in Louisiana (Acadians) and the Midwest.

If you can trace your family tree back to even one Canadian ancestor, you may be eligible for Canadian citizenship.

(Children born on or after December 15, 2025 face slightly different requirements: if they were born outside of Canada to a Canadian citizen, their parent has to have spent 1,095 days in Canada in order to pass on their citizenship.)

New Canadian citizenship rules in effect. Do you qualify?
A change to Canada’s Citizenship Act expands eligibility for Americans with family ties. Here’s how to see if you qualify.
USA TODAYMichelle Del Rey

How Do You Claim Canadian Citizenship?

Canadian citizenship by descent isn't something you apply for: it's automatic. You just have to apply for a citizenship certificate ($75 CAD). The average processing time is 10 months, but anecdotal reports say it can be much faster.

You don't have to hire an immigration lawyer, pay an exorbitant application fee, or even do a background check. You just have to show proof of Canadian ancestry in the form of birth certificates, marriage records, and other historical documents.

The biggest challenge is getting the documentation. You'll need:

  • Your own birth certificate showing the names of your parents
  • Your parents' birth certificates showing the names of their parents
  • Your grandparents' birth certificates (and so on for each generation)
  • The birth certificate or baptismal record of your Canadian ancestor
  • Marriage certificates or other records if there are any name changes

Généologie Québec, My Heritage, and Family Search all have troves of records, many of which you can access with a free account or free trial. In some states, births were recorded by local parishes, so you'll need to look for handwritten records in the Drouin Collection or order them from BANQ.

I was able to track down my ancestor's documents in a matter of hours, proving that they were born in Canada and therefore automatically a citizen (or a British subject, as they would have been considered at the time). Now, I just need to apply for a citizenship certificate and wait for a response.

Why Get Canadian Citizenship?

Getting Canadian citizenship can seem like a lot of effort, especially if you don't plan on moving to Canada anytime soon. But while other countries, like Italy, are limiting citizenship by descent, Canada's new citizenship rules are refreshingly straightforward. As a Canadian citizen, you're entitled to:

  • A Canadian passport
  • The right to live and work in Canada
  • The right to vote in elections (and run for office)
  • Access to Canadian healthcare (after three months of residency)
  • The right to pass citizenship on to your children

Canadian citizenship also has advantages for LGBTQ+ Americans in particular, as queer Americans seek legal protections and gender-affirming care for themselves or their family members. According to an article in Newsweek:

"Laurel ... has no intention of moving back to the U.S.'s northern neighbor. She has begun the process, she said, as it might help her daughter, who is transgender, get a passport that reflects her gender. "
Americans want to claim Canadian citizenship but face these issues
A seismic change to Canada’s citizenship by descent rules allows millions of Americans to obtain Canadian passports. But how?
NewsweekGiulia Carbonaro

Whether you want a second passport for yourself, your spouse, or your children, Canadian citizenship by descent may be an option. Once you have proof of your status, your family can apply for citizenship as well. If you aren't eligible for citizenship by descent, learn about other ways to move to Canada here.