Trans Americans with Canadian ancestry are now benefiting from expedited processing of their applications for Canadian citizenship certificates.

Canadian citizenship certificates, granted to individuals eligible as Canadian citizens based on their ancestry, have seen increased demand in the United States this year. This surge follows recent changes to Canada’s Citizenship Act that eliminated the generational limit on inheritance last December.

Millions of Americans, including many trans Americans concerned about their safety in the current U.S. political climate, have become eligible for Canadian citizenship. As a result, thousands have been applying for Canadian citizenship certificates to secure Canadian passports as a contingency plan. While the processing time for regular applications has doubled to 10 months, trans Americans have reported having their applications processed in as little as two weeks under Canada’s urgent processing criteria.

Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) allows for urgent processing of citizenship certificates in cases where applicants face potential harm or hardship due to sexual orientation, gender identity, membership in specific groups, or a need for Canadian healthcare. To request urgent processing, applicants must submit an explanation letter and supporting documents. If approved, IRCC will expedite the request, although processing times are not guaranteed.

Applicants must include the explanation letter and supporting documents with their complete proof of citizenship application, which involves submitting the necessary form and official documents proving descent from a Canadian ancestor. Once the proof of Canadian citizenship certificate is obtained, applicants can proceed to apply for a Canadian passport.