Americans Look North as Dual Citizenship Interest in Canada Grows

Amid political polarization in the United States and immigration concerns, several Americans are pursuing Canadian citizenship, citing security and practical reasons. Personal stories highlight motivations from Massachusetts, Nevada and Florida residents. The base citizenship application costs CAD 75, but total costs can rise significantly with attorney help (one estimate around CAD 6,500). Canada’s processing times for a citizenship certificate run about 10 months, with tens of thousands awaiting decisions; last year about 24,500 Americans gained dual US-Canada citizenship. Canadians generally welcome such interest but worry about “citizenship for convenience” and potential impacts on refugees and asylum-seekers.