A significant number of Rhode Islanders now qualify for dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship following recent changes to Canadian law.

The amendment, Bill C-3, removed the generational restriction on inheriting Canadian citizenship, positioning Rhode Island, with its rich French-Canadian heritage, as one of the prime regions in the U.S. for eligibility.

As of now, any American born before December 15, 2025, who can demonstrate a continuous lineage from a Canadian ancestor, is officially recognized as a U.S.-Canadian dual citizen.

Reasons Behind Rhode Island’s Eligibility

Rhode Island’s eligibility is rooted in its dense concentration of French-Canadian settlers in the U.S.

Between 1840 and 1930, nearly 900,000 French-speaking Canadians migrated from Quebec to New England’s industrial towns, with Rhode Island’s Blackstone Valley being a favored destination.

By 1900, French Canadians made up 60% of Woonsocket’s population, a city in northern Rhode Island known as the most French city in the U.S. In 1980, 70% of Woonsocket’s residents had French-Canadian ancestry.

Implications for Eligible Rhode Islanders

Research indicates that approximately one in seven Rhode Islanders, around 150,000 individuals, are of French-Canadian descent and qualify for Canadian citizenship under the new law.

Rhode Islanders born in the U.S. with the relevant ancestry are already dual citizens under Canada’s new citizenship legislation but must follow a process to obtain Canadian passports.