A new law lets many new Englanders get Canadian passports, i.e., around one in four people living in New England may now be able to qualify for Canadian citizenship. This change comes after a new law that expands citizenship by descent.
The new rule removed the limit on how many generations can pass down Canadian citizenship. This applies to anyone born before December 15, 2025, which is the date when the law officially started.
Many people in New England may have Canadian roots. This is because a large number of Canadians moved to the northeastern United States between 1870 and 1930. According to a presentation by Patrick White to the Rhode England Historical Society, millions of people in this region may have at least one Canadian ancestor.
If a person can trace family history back to a Canadian ancestor, they may be eligible for citizenship. This is true even if their parents or grandparents never lived in Canada or never had a Canadian passport.
With Canadian citizenship, a person gets many rights. They can enter Canada anytime, live and work there without limits, and take part in voting during elections.
People who choose to move to Canada can also use public services. This includes access to government-funded health care and other benefits available to citizens.
To confirm citizenship, a person needs to apply for proof of Canadian citizenship through the country’s immigration department.
In most cases, this process requires a paper application. The applicant must provide documents that show their Canadian ancestry. These documents can include birth certificates, marriage records, or even baptism records.
The application can be completed without help or with the support of a professional. Some people choose to hire an immigration lawyer or a licensed consultant to manage the process.
If a representative is used, their details must be clearly mentioned in the application.
At present, the processing time for proof of citizenship is about 10 months.
Once citizenship proof is received, the next step is to apply for a Canadian passport.
Applicants for Canadian passports currently have a 30-day money-back guarantee if processing takes longer than expected.
Canadian citizenship also has an advantage when it comes to taxes. Unlike the United States, Canada does not require citizens living abroad to pay income tax.
If a dual citizen of the US and Canada moves to Canada permanently, they will become a tax resident of Canada. People can avoid double taxation by using the tax agreement between the two countries.
Understanding Citizenship By Descent
Canada follows a birthright citizenship system. This means that children born in Canada automatically become Canadian citizens. Their birth certificate is enough to prove this.
Citizenship by descent works differently. It applies to children who are born outside Canada.
Under this rule, children can receive Canadian citizenship if their parents are Canadian citizens by birth or adoption.
Between 2009 and December 2025, Canada had a rule called the first-generation limit (FGL). This rule allowed citizenship by descent to pass only to one generation born outside Canada.
In December 2023, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice declared this rule unconstitutional.
As a result, the new law came into effect on December 15, 2025. It removed the first-generation limit for people born before this date.
For children born on or after December 15, 2025, there is a new condition. They can still get citizenship by descent, but only if their Canadian parent has a strong connection to Canada.
This connection is measured by time spent in the country. The parent must have lived in Canada for at least 1095 days before the child’s birth or adoption.
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