#208 - Proving Canadian Ancestry, with Amandeep Hayer and Lisa Middlemiss

We are joined once again by Amandeep Hayer and Lisa Middlemiss, to discuss citizenship by descent post Bill C-3

With thousands of people, particularly Americans, now exploring whether they qualify for Canadian citizenship through a distant ancestor, we discuss how the law works, how to prove eligibility, and the practical challenges involved.

We also discuss the genealogy research often required to prove citizenship, archival birth records, IRCC processing issues, the interim measures, and the broader policy implications of expanding citizenship while immigration pathways tighten.

03:01 Quick recap: who qualifies for Canadian citizenship by descent under the new framework

08:27 The main challenge: proving ancestry and lineage

13:33 Situations where someone may think they qualify but actually don’t (e.g., adoption issues)

27:43 Can someone apply for a study permit or work permit if they might already be Canadian?

Audience Questions:

33:14 British subjects in Canada during WWII

35:26 What happened to the interim citizenship measures from 2024

39:36 Do families need separate citizenship proof applications for each generation?

46:06 Where to start if your Canadian ancestor was born in the 1800s

48:26 Translation requirements for Quebec civil records

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