Thousands are now Canadians under new citizenship law. Half of them are…
Thousands of people became Canadian citizens on May 28, 2025, when amendments to the Citizenship Act took effect, with approximately half of the new citizens residing in the United States. The changes restore citizenship to individuals who lost it under outdated provisions of previous laws, some dating back decades.
The amendments address what Immigration Minister Marc Miller previously called "lost Canadians" — people who were Canadian by birth or descent but lost status due to legislative gaps. Before May 28, an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 individuals worldwide were affected by these provisions, many of whom had lived their entire lives believing they were not Canadian or had been stripped of citizenship through no fault of their own.
The new law extends citizenship to anyone born in Canada before 1947 who did not become a citizen when the first Citizenship Act took effect, and to their children born outside Canada. It also covers people who lost citizenship due to the 28-year age limit that existed between 1947 and 1977, which required individuals born abroad to one Canadian parent to affirm their citizenship before turning 28 or lose it. Additionally, the amendments grant citizenship to children born abroad to Canadian parents who were themselves born abroad, eliminating the first-generation limit for those with historical ties to Canada.
The changes primarily affect individuals in the United States, where many descendants of Canadians settled over the past century, as well as people in the United Kingdom, Australia, and other Commonwealth countries. Children born abroad to Canadian war brides after 1947, elderly individuals who left Canada as minors and never formalized their status, and second-generation Canadians born outside the country are among those who gained citizenship automatically.
Anyone who believes they qualify under the new provisions does not need to apply — citizenship is granted automatically by law. However, individuals will need to apply for a citizenship certificate to obtain proof of status, which is required for a Canadian passport. Applications can be submitted through the standard citizenship certificate process on the IRCC website, with processing times currently listed at approximately 10 months.