TORONTO, Canada: Although relations between the U.S. and Canada have become strained under President Donald Trump, new data shows that many Americans are interested in becoming Canadian citizens.
Canada recently expanded its citizenship rules, allowing more people with Canadian ancestry to apply, not just first-generation descendants. Since these new rules began, approvals for citizenship by descent have increased by more than 1,000 per month this year, according to Canada's immigration agency.
This is a big jump compared to December 2025, when only 275 additional approvals were recorded after the law came into effect.
The data also shows that about 48 percent of these extra approvals up to February were from people in the United States.
Immigration lawyers say this high number reflects the long-standing close relationship between the two countries. It also suggests that many Americans view Canada as an attractive place to live or study, especially amid political uncertainty in the U.S.
William Hunnewell, a 41-year-old from Seattle, said he applied earlier this year and expects a decision within nine months to a year. His great-grandfather lived in Saskatchewan before World War I, and his grandfather was born in Canada.
He said having Canadian citizenship would give his family more choices. For example, his child could study or live in Canada without needing a visa or worrying about deadlines.
Experts say most of the people who gain citizenship under the new rules will likely continue living outside Canada, but they want to keep their options open. U.S.-based immigration lawyer Nick Berning said U.S. politics clearly influence interest in Canadian citizenship. Many people want to stay in the U.S., but they also want a backup plan if things become difficult.
Political divisions in the U.S. have increased, and polls show growing dissatisfaction with the Trump administration.
Relations between the U.S. and Canada have also worsened after Trump imposed high tariffs on Canadian goods and even suggested making Canada the 51st U.S. state.
According to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), 1,140 approvals were given in January, 1,255 in February, and 1,405 in March under the new citizenship category.
Canada changed its citizenship law after a 2023 court ruling said that limiting citizenship to only the first generation born abroad was unconstitutional.
Now, people whose families have lived outside Canada for generations can still qualify for citizenship if they can prove their ancestry. This is different from Canada's recent efforts to reduce overall immigration levels.
However, Berning pointed out that people who become citizens but have never lived in Canada cannot keep passing citizenship to their children indefinitely if those children are also born abroad.
