Interest in Canadian Citizenship Surges Among Americans Once Again
Canada’s immigration department has seen a significant increase in web traffic from the United States compared to a typical Wednesday, according to spokesperson Julie Lafortune in a statement to POLITICO. Although Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) doesn’t systematically track direct inquiries, Lafortune noted, “Anecdotally, we can confirm we’ve seen a spike in questions from U.S. citizens reaching out today.”
The IRCC provides resources online to help foreign nationals understand pathways to legally reside in Canada. For instance, skilled American workers interested in relocating to Canada’s Atlantic provinces—New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador—face an estimated eight-month processing period with fees beginning at $1,525 CAD.
“Anyone can apply for temporary or permanent status in Canada, provided they meet the qualifications,” Lafortune added. “There are several avenues for applicants to remain in Canada temporarily or permanently.”
Recent data shows a growing interest among Americans in Canadian residency. Over the past week, Google search interest in “Canadian citizenship” among U.S. users was low, never surpassing a score of 7 on the search engine’s 0-100 “interest over time” scale. However, as election results Tuesday night suggested a Trump victory, this interest spiked sharply—reaching 21 by 10 p.m., 31 by 11 p.m., and peaking at 77 by 3 a.m. Wednesday. By 7 a.m., after Trump’s win was officially called, the score hit 100, indicating maximum search interest. Related terms, such as “immigrate to Canada” and “Canada immigration process,” also saw notable increases.
On Wednesday, Americans were searching in higher-than-normal numbers for alternative residency options, including “Irish citizenship,” “moving to Australia,” “how to move to New Zealand,” and “political asylum.”
Those opposed to Trump’s return to office broadly fear a rollback of freedoms and civil liberties, particularly concerning abortion rights, LGBTQ+ protections, and racial and ethnic minority rights. Despite this interest, however, it’s likely that few Americans with dreams of moving to cities like Toronto or Calgary, or rural spots like Moose Jaw, will make the move. Still, the Association of Americans Resident Overseas estimates over one million Americans currently live in Canada.
Some high-profile figures are voicing their intentions to leave. For instance, Vivian Jenna Wilson, the transgender daughter of billionaire Elon Musk, recently posted on Threads that she doesn’t envision her “future being in the United States.”
Trump has signaled plans to use the Department of Justice and other agencies to act against perceived political enemies. For those immigrating to the U.S., he has indicated plans for a strict immigration policy, including militarizing the U.S.-Mexico border and mass deportations, which could affect millions of undocumented individuals.
Canada, a country of just over 40 million people with a long history of welcoming immigrants, recently announced plans to adjust its immigration targets. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to decrease the number of new permanent residents from 485,000 in 2023 to 395,000 by 2025, with further reductions to 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027. Immigration Minister Marc Miller has emphasized that while Canada remains an open country, a “managed migration system” is necessary for the benefit of both newcomers and the wider population.
