Nigerians, Americans and other foreign nationals are increasingly exploring ancestral connections in a renewed push to obtain Canadian citizenship following a recent policy expansion by the Canadian government.
The trend has sparked a surge in demand for historical documents, with many applicants seeking to establish family links to Canada through official archives.
At the Nova Scotia Archives, requests for genealogical records have risen sharply, reflecting the growing interest among individuals attempting to trace their lineage.
Manager of the archive, John Macleod, revealed that the facility, which handled only 260 requests in 2024, has already recorded over 1,500 applications within the first three months of 2026.
The spike in interest followed a December 2025 decision by Canadian authorities to widen the scope of citizenship by descent, allowing more categories of descendants to qualify.
Under the revised framework, individuals can now claim citizenship if they can prove that a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent was born in Canada or became a naturalised citizen.
Data from the immigration ministry showed that 6,230 applications were received between December 15, 2025, when the policy took effect, and January 31.
Officials explained that applicants must have been born outside Canada before December 15, 2025, to benefit from the arrangement.
They added that parents hoping to transfer citizenship to children born after that date must have lived in Canada for at least three years.
Authorities emphasised that applicants bear full responsibility for providing verifiable documents, including birth certificates and other records establishing family relationships.
However, the ministry clarified that DNA or genetic evidence would not be accepted as proof in the application process.
