The Public Archives and Records Office of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island has experienced a significant increase in document inquiries from individuals seeking Canadian ancestry records following recent changes to Canada’s citizenship laws.

Bill C-3, which came into effect on December 15, 2025, removed the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent in Canada. This change now allows individuals to claim citizenship based on descent from a Canadian ancestor, regardless of the number of generations back the connection goes.

To obtain a proof of Canadian citizenship certificate, necessary for acquiring a Canadian passport, applicants must provide official documents verifying their Canadian lineage. This requirement has led to a surge in requests to provincial archives and records offices across Canada, including Prince Edward Island.

Increased Demand for Ancestry Records

According to a spokesperson for PEI’s Public Archives and Records Office, the monthly requests for ancestry records have risen by 150%.

Statistics from the PEI archives reveal a substantial increase in requests. In 2025, the office received 585 requests, while from January to April 2026 alone, they received 1,776 requests, with an additional 732 in May.

The spokesperson noted, “We have received four years’ worth of requests in just four months.”

Requests began to rise in October 2025 when the Canadian government introduced interim measures allowing those with Canadian ancestry to apply for citizenship. The trend continued into the new year.

The majority of requests, 99.9%, have come from American applicants, with a smaller number from countries like Ireland, Australia, and France. Applicants are primarily seeking various vital statistics documents, such as birth, marriage, death, and census records, to establish their Canadian lineage.

Increased Processing Times

The backlog has led to longer processing times. Previously, requests were handled within a week, but now applicants are experiencing delays of several months.