Roughly 25% of New Englanders can now get Canadian passports, following recent changes to Canada's citizenship law, CIC News reports.

The change flows from amendments to Canada's citizenship legislation, which expanded who counts as a citizen by descent. For residents of the six New England states, the practical effect is that a large share of the population may already hold a claim to Canadian citizenship without realizing it.

Who does the change affect?

The estimate covers people living in New England — Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont — who have Canadian ancestry within the scope of the revised law. Under the previous rules, citizenship by descent could break down after the first generation born outside Canada. The updated framework widens that pathway.

For affected individuals, the process is not an application for citizenship in the ordinary sense. It is a confirmation that they were already citizens, or became citizens, under the amended law.

What steps change?

People who believe they qualify can seek proof of Canadian citizenship — the official document that lets a citizen apply for a Canadian passport. The key steps are:

• Establishing a family line to a Canadian citizen ancestor covered by the amended law
• Gathering supporting documents, such as birth records linking each generation
• Applying for a citizenship certificate from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
• Applying for a Canadian passport once proof of citizenship is in hand

Immigration authorities process proof-of-citizenship applications, and processing times vary. Anyone considering this route should check current requirements and timelines on the official IRCC website before filing.

Why does this matter for New England?

New England sits close to Canada geographically and, for many families, genealogically. Decades of cross-border movement mean large numbers of residents have a Canadian-born parent, grandparent or earlier ancestor. The 25% figure reported by CIC News reflects how many people in the region may now fall within citizenship-by-descent rules.

Holding a Canadian passport carries practical benefits: the right to live and work in Canada, access to Canadian consular services abroad, and dual nationality for those whose home country permits it.

Readers should confirm eligibility details through official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada channels, since the rules apply differently depending on family circumstances.

The bottom line: the law change converts existing family ties into a claim on Canadian citizenship — and a passport — for millions of people across New England.