Archivists and genealogists on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border are reporting an unprecedented surge in requests for documents proving Canadian ancestry, following recent changes to Canadian citizenship legislation.
Bill C-3 Triggers Citizenship Rush
Bill C-3, known as the "Lost Canadians Act," took effect in December 2025. The law allows anyone with a direct ancestor born in Canada, regardless of how many generations back, to claim Canadian citizenship. This change has prompted a flood of inquiries from U.S. residents seeking birth certificates, marriage records, hospital documents, and other proof of Canadian lineage.
Surge in Archive Requests
Patrick Lacroix, director of the University of Maine at Fort Kent's Acadian Archives, told the Bangor Daily News that he has received roughly 100 inquiries this year, on track to more than double the total for all of 2025. He noted that last year's requests mostly came from genealogists or hobbyists, but now many are from people seeking authenticated documents meeting Canadian government submission requirements. "Many of them are very explicit about their goal," Lacroix said. "There is no question that some of it is politically driven."
In Canada, similar trends are emerging. Patrick White, a journalism professor at the Universite du Quebec a Montreal, observed heightened interest from descendants of French Canadians who migrated from Quebec to New England. "The current climate in the U.S. is leading many of them to inquire about the possible acquisition of Canadian citizenship because of the changes made here in December. This is a 'Plan B' for them," White said in a February email to the National Post.
Record-Breaking Inquiries at Archives
Bibliotheque et Archives nationales du Quebec spokesperson Claire-Helene Lengelle reported an "unprecedented surge" in requests, jumping from 43 inquiries in March 2025 to 1,500 in March 2026. Nova Scotia Archives posted a notice on its website citing increased demand, warning that responses may take up to 30 business days. The institution saw ten times more requests in January and February 2026 than in the same period in 2025, according to CBC.
Vancouver immigration lawyer Amandeep Hayer noted a "noticeable increase" in U.S. residents seeking Canadian citizenship. While inquiries have also come from Japan, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, Hayer said "it has been overwhelmingly American, 95 per cent."
